Petition asks mental health to be funded the same as physical

Over 10 thousand Ontarians have signed a Canadian Mental Health Association petition. The petition is part of the CMHA’s Erase The Difference campaign asking Ontario’s political parties to fund mental health and addictions the same as physical care. The CMHA says the chronic underfunding of the system leads those struggling with mental health and addictions into the justice system or emergency department as care providers are unable to intervene early. The CMHA says, Ontario devoted only 6.5% of its total health budget to mental health and addictions last year. They add the burden of mental illness in Ontario is 1.5 times that of all cancers combined. Executive Director of CMHA Muskoka-Parry Sound Diane Brown-DeMarco says we want to make sure this is a voting issue for Ontarians. This week is Mental Health Week in Canada.