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With 1 in 5 Canadians experiencing a mental health-related problem/illness, suicide being the 9th leading cause of death in Canada, LGBTQ and marginalized individuals being more likely to report depression, anxiety, and unmet mental health needs, and about 21% of the Canadian population meeting the criteria for addiction in their lifetime, more needs to be done to support the mental health needs of Canadians.
The mental health of everyone in Canada and in every province needs to take priority and can no longer be put on the back burner.
These documents, prepared through my work as a community leader and mental health advocate based out of Ontario, are designed not only to show the continued and only growing need for mental health services and care in Canada but also to advise and make recommendation goals to the Government of Canada for 2023. What I, through a year's (2022) worth of conversations with individuals, groups, organizations, attending events and focus sessions/panels, personal experiences, and more from across Canada, see as the areas with the most need of action.
These recommendations are recommendation goals that I make in calling on the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to take a closer look at the mental health of Canadians in 2023. Goals and recommendations that, when acted on, I truly believe will make an impact on communities across Canada and will help to improve the mental health of all everywhere.
The mental health of Canadians everywhere can no longer wait. Urgent action is needed now.