Now more than ever: Mental health in uncertain times

As the cost of living soars, Canadians can’t help but view mental health care as a luxury. That’s because much mental health care is wrongfully excluded from our public health care system. As a result, many Canadians must go without mental health, addiction and substance use health care if they aren’t able to pay for it themselves. External threats to our economy will only deepen this reality and if Canadians lose their livelihoods, their mental health will suffer. In fact, a person’s income predicts how healthy they will be.

To ensure mental health remains top of mind for all political parties and candidates running in the 2025 federal election, the Canadian Mental Health Association’s election platform, Now More Than Ever: Mental Health in These Uncertain Times, makes concrete recommendations that will improve access to community supports, help vulnerable Canadians stay housed and reduce unsheltered homelessness, and work toward better mental health outcomes.

By adopting these solutions, political leaders can ensure people in Canada enjoy the best mental health they can, no matter where they live, or how much money they have.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the largest provider of frontline community mental health and addiction services in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province and the Yukon, CMHA provides programs that help prevent mental health problems and illnesses, and support recovery and resilience.
Our workforce of 8,800 staff and 11,000 volunteers includes social workers, specialized nurses, mental health and addiction workers, and peer supporters. CMHAs play a vital role in Canada’s healthcare ecosystem with low-barrier addiction programs, recovery-focused mental health treatment, school-based illness prevention and health promotion education, family and caregiver supports and as crisis
services responders, including as partners in the national 9-8-8 suicide crisis helpline.
Learn more about our work at www.cmha.ca

Read CMHA’s Full Platform

An important note: The boundaries and names of most federal ridings (electoral districts) have changed following a redistribution process to better represent Canada’s growing population. To find the name of your new riding, as well as your candidates, visit Elections Canada Voter Information Service.