(Toronto, April 15, 2025) – In response to today’s Throne Speech, Ontario’s community mental health and addiction organizations are emphasizing that building a stronger, more resilient province will depend on meaningful long-term investment in mental health and addictions services.

Each year, more than one million people in Ontario experience a mental health or addictions challenge that requires care.

As trade tensions grow and economic uncertainty intensifies, research shows that these pressures are likely to increase the risk of mental health and addictions issues. Workers in sectors most affected by tariffs — including automotive, construction, agriculture, forestry, and mining — may face additional strain, not only on their own well-being, but also on the mental health of their children and families.

In the face of these challenges, organizations are raising concerns that the community mental health and addictions sector is not adequately resourced for the continuing influx of support that will likely be needed by Ontarians.

The sector is already under immense strain due to ongoing health human resource challenges, with organizations struggling to recruit and retain qualified mental health professionals and prevent long waitlists and service reductions.

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of people seeking community mental health and addictions services over the past few years,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario. “As more Ontarians seek our services, our sector needs to be able to attract and retain the workforce necessary to support them. We continue to advocate for additional funding to support our clients, those in need of service and the people providing care.”

“Protecting Ontario begins with investing in the programs and professionals that help people move from crisis to care,” said Jennifer Holmes Weier, CEO of Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO). “The Throne Speech highlighted significant investment in primary care, hospital infrastructure, and long-term care – all important components of a strong and responsive health system. However, mental health and addictions services, particularly in community settings, were not explicitly addressed. Community providers are ready to work with government to ensure these services are not left behind as Ontario continues to strengthen its health system.”

“While today’s Throne Speech outlined a vision for Ontario’s economic future, it missed a critical opportunity to address the mental health needs of our young people,” said Tatum Wilson, CEO, Children’s Mental Health Ontario. “Across the province, children, youth, and their families are facing mounting pressures—from economic uncertainty to long wait times for services. Without sustained investment in community-based services, and the dedicated mental health

professionals who deliver them, we risk long-term impacts on the well-being of young people and the caregivers and families who support them every day.”

FAST FACTS:

· Research shows that for every dollar invested in covering psychological services in Canada, two dollars is saved for society over the long-term.

· As many as 1 in 5 children and youth in Ontario will experience some form of mental health problem

· Of the top 10 reasons children and youth ages 5 to 17 were hospitalized, mental health issues took the first, second, fourth, and tenth spots in 2022.

About Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is a not-for-profit, charitable organization funded by the provincial government. We work to improve the lives of all Ontarians through leadership, collaboration and continual pursuit of excellence in community-based mental health and addictions services. Our vision is a society that embraces and invests in the mental health of all people. We are a trusted advisor to government, contributing to health systems development through policy formulation and recommendations that promote positive mental health.

About Addictions Mental Health Ontario
AMHO represents over 150 addiction and mental health organizations in Ontario. Our members provide services and supports that help Ontarians across the province with their recovery, including community-based counselling and case management, peer support and consumer run businesses, residential treatment, withdrawal management, supportive housing, harm reduction and hospital-based programs. As the collective voice of our members, we provide leadership and engage partners to lead change that will revolutionize the addiction and mental healthcare experience for people in Ontario. We do this through policy work, advocacy initiatives, service development, knowledge exchange, education offerings and quality improvement work. AMHO thanks each of our members for their ongoing engagement and support.

About Children’s Mental Health Ontario
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) is the association representing Ontario’s public providers of infant, child and youth mental health services. Our 85 member organizations operate in every region of the province, providing treatment and support to infants, children, youth and families. Services include targeted prevention, early intervention, short- and long-term counselling and therapy, addictions services, intensive services and acute care. With the combined strength of our members, partners, youth and families, our primary goal is to promote a coordinated and high performing system of care that puts children, youth, and families first, so that young people get the mental health supports they need to thrive.