News

CMHA Ontario deeply grateful for 2025 budget investments for community
mental health and addictions care

(Toronto, May 15, 2025) – The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario thanks
the provincial government for including much-needed investments in mental health and
addictions care in the 2025 Budget.

The new investment of $303 million over the next three years for community mental health and
addictions agencies provides a 4 per cent increase in operational funding and marks a critical
step toward stabilizing the sector and maintaining quality care for individuals and families across
the province.

Community mental health and addictions organizations are on the front lines of a growing crisis.
Each year, more than one million people in Ontario experience a mental health or addictions
challenge that requires care. Demand for services continues to rise, particularly in the wake of
economic uncertainty, the opioid crisis, and growing concern about homelessness across the
province. Today’s funding announcement will allow CMHA branches to continue providing
programs which are experiencing high service volumes across the province, such as crisis
response, case management, early psychosis intervention and assertive community treatment
teams. It will also allow the sector to continue supporting municipal partners, hospitals and first
responders in addressing the issues affecting our communities.
“We are extremely pleased with the government’s recognition of the challenges faced by our
sector as we support Ontarians with mental health and addictions challenges,” said Camille
Quenneville, CEO, CMHA Ontario. “This funding will allow our branches to focus on their clients’
recovery, some of whom are the most vulnerable people in society.”
“We look forward to continuing working with government and our sector partners in developing
the continuum of care to address the mental health, addiction and homelessness crisis in our
community.”

Fast Facts:

• When compared to others doing the same job in other health sectors, staff in community
  mental health and addictions are often paid 20 to 30 per cent less.

• Research shows that for every dollar invested in covering psychological services in Canada,
  two dollars is saved for society over the long-term.

• CMHA branches served more than 120,000 Ontarians in 2024.

About Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is a not-for-profit, charitable organization.
We work to improve the lives of all Ontarians through leadership, collaboration and continual
pursuit of excellence in community-based mental health and addictions services. Our vision is a
society that embraces and invests in the mental health of all people. We are a trusted advisor togovernment, contributing to health systems development through policy formulation and
recommendations that promote positive mental health. Our 27 local CMHA branches, together
with community-based mental health and addictions service providers across the province,
serve thousands of Ontarians each year.

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For more information, contact:
Elham Bidgoli
Communications Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
E: ebidgoli@ontario.cmha.ca