Ontario Election 2011 Vote4MHA Campaign

1. Ontario Election 2011Vote4MHA Campaign Sheela Subramanian, Policy Analyst Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance

2. 10 mental health and addictions organizations: • Consumer/survivor • Family member • Community • Hospital • Children and youth • Addictions Who Are We? www.vote4mha.ca

3. Addictions Ontario Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Children’s Mental Health Ontario Mood Disorders Association of Ontario Ontario Association of Patient Councils Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addictions Programs Ontario Peer Development Initiative Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences Schizophrenia Society of Ontario +Over 80 supporting organizations across Ontario

4. Make mental health and addictions a priority for the incoming government • Party leaders/candidates hear that MH&A is a priority for Ontarians • Parties say how they will address the issues • Voters raise MH&A issues in their ridings • MH&A as part of election dialogue Our Goal www.vote4mha.ca

5. Why Mental Health & Addictions? • Almost all Ontarians impacted • Costs are high • Economic costs are over $30 billion in Ontario • Social and human costs immeasurable • Critical gaps remain • Access to supports across Ontario • Wait times • Lack of leadership www.vote4mha.ca

6. Ensure equitable access to mental health and addictions services and supports for every Ontarian • Reduce wait times for children and youth • Improve access to supportive housing • Establish strong provincial leadership to address MH&A across sectors and ministries Asks to Ontario’s Parties www.vote4mha.ca

7. 1. Equitable Access to Services and Supports Issue • MH&A services and supports are not available consistently across the province Action Required • Invest in MH&A services to ensure access to core basket across Ontario to meet needs and reduce service gaps www.vote4mha.ca

8. 2. Reduce Wait Times for Children and Youth Issue • 70 % of adults with a MH issue experience first symptoms before age 18 Action Required • Reduce wait times to ensure the MH&A system is responding to the needs of kids and youth in a timely way www.vote4mha.ca

9. 3. Improve Access to Supportive Housing Issue • People wait too long for the stable and supportive housing critical to recovery Action Required • Improve access to supportive housing www.vote4mha.ca

10. 4. Mobilize Leadership Issue • MH&A involves multiple ministries and sectors, but coordination and leadership is lacking at gov’t level Action Required • Put in place gov’t leadership to coordinate action across ministries and sectors. • Consumers, families and providers must be involved in all aspects of the system www.vote4mha.ca

11. Get Involved

12. Join the Network of Supporters • Over 80 orgs across Ontario • Speak to candidates – Election Kit • Local media outreach • Spread the word As an Organization www.vote4mha.ca

13. Network of Supporters

14. Letter campaign • 2 minutes to write to leaders and candidates • Spread the word • Speak to candidates • Vote! As an Individual www.vote4mha.ca

16. Questions? www.Vote4MHA.ca