Tuesday, September 02, 2003

People with serious mental illness see this election as a matter of life or death (Canada)
Canada Newswire story - " 'This election is about life or death for people with serious mental illness,' says Neil McGregor, President, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario. 'Overburdened services, long waiting lists, and suicides because help isn't available are what people with mental illness and their families face after more than 10 years with no increase to the operating budgets of community mental health services.' Since 1992, demand for mental health services in Ontario has increased at a pace three times faster than demand for any other type of health care. Nineteen ninety-two was also the last year that community mental health programs received a core budget increase. The result? Seventy percent of people with mental illness don't get help. This is why CMHA, Ontario, together with the thirty-three CMHA branches across the province, wants mental health to be on the agenda for this election." See also the new section of the CMHA web site - Ontario Election Centre: Make mental health front and centre during the election, which includes a document How to Get Involved, an election newsletter and other resources.