Introduction For decades, mental health and addictions services in communities throughout Ontario have been chronically underfunded compared to other parts of the health system. The result: it s impossible to meet the needs of Ontarians. Wait times are up. Programs have been cut. People are falling through the cracks. But we re on the cusp of something big. For the first time in a long time, there s widespread acceptance about the urgent need for quality mental health and addiction services. The federal government is providing an unprecedented amount of money for mental health and addictions services. And with the provincial election coming this spring, Ontario s three main political parties all believe it s a key issue. Now is the time for all Ontarians who have been touched by mental health or addictions issues to make their voice heard. Join us in letting provincial election candidates know that it s time to #erasethedifference and fund mental health and addictions care the same as physical health care. Help us spread the word about the campaign and petition hosted by Canadian Mental Health Association branches in Ontario. Tools included in this package Website story Social media posts Social media graphics Poster Flyer Questions? If you have further questions about this package, please contact communications@ontario.cmha.ca.
Web story Add your voice in support of mental health and addictions care Ontarians are raising their voices in support of mental health and addictions care. Thousands of Ontarians have added their name to a petition calling for mental health and addictions care to receive equal funding to physical care. The petition is part of the Erase the Difference campaign, spearheaded by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario Division. It s been launched in the lead up to the June 7 th provincial election. Mental health and addictions services in Ontario remain chronically underfunded compared to other parts of the health system. Without regular and ongoing investment into the system, people coming forward to seek help can end up languishing while they wait for service. Ontario currently devotes $3.5 billion of a total $54-billion health budget to mental health and addictions. This means that the mental health and addictions share of the health budget is 6.5 per cent. In 1979, it was 11.3 per cent. Join thousands of Ontarians in letting provincial candidates know that it s time to #erasethedifference and fund mental health and addictions care the same as physical health care. Visit erasethedifference.ca and sign the petition.
Sample Social Posts Facebook It s time to erase the difference and fund mental health and addictions care the same as physical health care. Join us and sign the petition at erasethedifference.ca. https://youtu.be/5gmazn78gem Twitter It s time to #erasethedifference and fund #mentalhealth and #addictions care the same as physical health care. Join usand sign the petition at erasethedifference.ca. https://youtu.be/5gmazn78gem If there is no health without #mentalhealth, why are they funded differently? It s time to #erasethedifference: https://youtu.be/5gmazn78gem It s time for all Ontarians who have been touched by #mentalhealth or #addictions issues to make their voice heard. erasethedifference.ca <insert shareable image> #EraseTheDifference Wait times are up. Programs have been cut. People are falling through the cracks. It s time to #erasethedifference: erasethedifference.ca <insert shareable image>
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