www.mfmhto.com

While fantastic initiatives have increased awareness and helped reduce some of the stigma surrounding mental health issues, the supply for mental health services does not meet the demand. More and more people are feeling comfortable to speak out and ask for help, only to find there are not enough services available when they do.

The recent federal health accord committed 5 billion additional dollars to mental health care over the next 10 years Ontarios share is 1.92 billion dollars. While this sounds like a substantial amount, and it's a great start, when broken down among the population of Ontario it represents only about $14 per person per year.

Canada prides itself on having a universal healthcare system, yet when it comes to mental health care, a two-tier system still exists - those who can afford to pay for immediate care receive it, while those who cannot are forced to wait, often with fatal consequences.

Too many Canadians are falling through the cracks due to a lack of funding for mental health care, resulting in staggering economic and human costs. It's time for more than talk. It's time for ACTION.

Join us during Mental Health Week for a peaceful march from Nathan Phillips Square to Queens Park to demonstrate the importance of this issue. Bring your signs, your voice, and any loved ones who have been lost to suicide by displaying or carrying their photo with you.

Did you know?

Prevalence

1 in 5 Canadians will have a mental illness this year, while 1 in 2 Canadians will have experienced a mental illness by the time they reach 40 years of age

38 of illnesses among people under 65 years old are mental illnesses

38 of Canadians have a family member with a mental illness in any year

Impact

The impact of mental illness is 1 times that of all cancers combined

500,000 Canadians miss work each day due to mental illness

The impact of mental illness on the Canadian economy is over $50 Billion per year

Today in Canada approximately 11 people will end their lives by suicide. In addition, approximately 210 others will attempt to end their lives by suicide today.

For each death by suicide, it has been estimated that the lives of 7-10 bereaved Survivors are profoundly affected. This means that today in Canada 77-110 people will become newly bereaved by suicide.

Only 1/3 of those facing mental health challenges access help - stigma remains a barrier to accessing support.

Often, individuals with a mental illness are faced with multiple intersecting layers of discrimination as a result of their mental illness and their identity

Children and Youth

900,000 Canadian adolescents ages 13 19 lived with a mental health issue in 2016

Wait times for childrens mental health services in Ontario are as high as 18 months in some parts of the province

In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them

Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents

Indigenous People

Canadas indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by mental illness due to social, economic and historical factors

Suicide rates are five to seven times higher for First Nations youth than for non-Aboriginal youth

Public and Private Expenditures

Spending on mental healthcare in Canada is just over 7 of all healthcare spending:

- Well below other western countries; spending in the UK is 13

- The Mental Health Commission of Canada recommends an increase to 9

WE ARE CALLING ON THE FEDERAL & PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS TO:

1.Treat mental health no differently than physical health.

If you broke your arm, would you expect to wait over a year to have it casted? If you urgently needed your appendix removed, would you expect to wait over a year for surgery? If you needed chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer, would you expect to wait over a year before your first treatment?

2.Increase funding & services for mental health care.

Only 7 of all Canadian healthcare dollars go towards mental health. Follow the recommendation of the The Mental Health Commission of Canada and increase this amount to a minimum of 9. The recent federal health accord committed 5 billion additional dollars to mental health care over the next 10 years Ontarios share is 1.92 billion dollars. While this sounds like a substantial amount, and it's a great start, when broken down among the population of Ontario it represents only about $14 per person per year.

3. Make a full range of mental health services and supports accessible to every person in Ontario, when and where needed.

There is currently a two-tier system in Ontario. Many cannot access services due to the cost, and when funded services are available, the wait-times are often far too long. More services need to be accessible to more people and more quickly.

4. Create a National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Suicide prevention strategies save lives. In 21 OECD countries that implemented strategies, suicide rates dropped primarily among youth and the elderly, the two populations most at risk in Canada. Both the United Nations and the World Health Organization WHO have called on all nations to implement national strategies.

5. Comply with the orders given by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for First Nations children.

This includes an investment of a minimum of $155 million for child welfare among Indigenous Canadians, as well as fully implementing 'Jordan's Principle' to ensure that all First Nations children can access government services on the same terms as any other Canadian child.

Implementing the above will improve and save thousands of lives each year - 80 of those who receive treatment for a mental illness respond well.

IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS:

Call 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Room

Visit http://www.dcontario.org/centres.html for all Ontario distress lines.

Visit http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca

Toronto Distress Line: 416-408-4357

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness 24/7 Help Line 1-855-242-3310

Trans LifeLine All Ages 1-877-330-6366

Graphic design work generously provided by MaryAnn Icaro.

Check out her work at maryannicaro.weebly.com and at facebook.com/maryannicarodesign