As Ontario’s election campaign begins, The Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Ontario division is raising concerns over the lack of attention to the province’s growing mental health and addictions crises.
Despite a worsening drug-poisoning crisis, rising homelessness, and increased demand for mental health care, none of the major party leaders addressed these issues in their campaign launches.
“This issue should be front and centre in discussions on Ontario’s future,” said CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville. “We need real solutions, not the status quo.”
Ontario sees between 2,500 and 3,000 opioid-related deaths annually—one every three hours. Homelessness has increased by 50 per cent over eight years, affecting over 80,000 Ontarians in 2024 alone.
The CMHA is calling for urgent funding to improve crisis services, housing, and mental health care access. Advocates expect party leaders to make mental health a priority as the campaign continues.
