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Public Policy

The Canadian Mental Health Association is the only association in Canada that addresses all aspects of mental health and mental illness. We promote and advocate through strong connections we forge with policymakers, mental health consumers and their families, educators, the media, stakeholders and other service providers.

CMHA’s National office influences public policy at the federal level with a multi-faceted approach that includes strengthening our relationship with government officials and politicians. In addition, we focus on the ongoing submission of briefs and presentations to Standing Committees on Finance, Health, Human Resources Development, Justice and others.

CMHA Policy Statements articulate the general principles and recommendations relating to a particular issue which are endorsed by the CMHA.

New national survey finds Canadians’ mental health eroding

The second wave of the pandemic has intensified feelings of stress and anxiety, causing alarming levels of despair, suicidal thoughts and hopelessness in the Canadian population. This, according to the newest wave of data collected through a nationwide monitoring survey on the mental health impacts of COVID-19, released today by the Canadian Mental Health Association […]Continue readingNew national survey finds Canadians’ mental health eroding

Muslim Women’s Mental Health: a study

The community-based research project, Muslim Women’s Mental Health, asked Muslim women in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) to describe their first-hand experiences of mental health and mental health services. CMHA is pleased to present this valuable research, which offers a clear vision for mental health services that respect and understand the specific needs […]Continue readingMuslim Women’s Mental Health: a study

Statement on Universal Basic Income

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused sudden and unprecedented job loss, Canada moved swiftly. The COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan – of which the CERB is a part – provided temporary income support to workers who lost jobs due to the pandemic. In the process, it may have changed the way we […]Continue readingStatement on Universal Basic Income

Written Submission for Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2021 Federal Budget

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extreme national anxiety with mental health effects like nothing we have seen before. Research suggests that Canadians will still be struggling with their mental health long after a vaccine is available. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has made the case to the federal government […]Continue readingWritten Submission for Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2021 Federal Budget

Statement on police and wellness checks

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is deeply concerned by the recent deaths of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis across Canada stemming from interactions with the police. Each of these deaths is an unacceptable tragedy. We extend our condolences to the families, loved ones and communities mourning these deaths, […]Continue readingStatement on police and wellness checks

COVID-19 and Mental Health: Heading Off an Echo Pandemic

In Canada, COVID-19, or coronavirus disease, has caused thousands of deaths and continues to endanger lives. Since the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic in March 2020, preventative measures, including physical distancing, have been introduced across Canada to support infection control, and reduce the spread of COVID-19.Continue readingCOVID-19 and Mental Health: Heading Off an Echo Pandemic

COVID-19 effects on the mental health of vulnerable populations: Wave 1

The pandemic has caused intense stress and disruption for all people in Canada, and is causing pronounced mental health concerns, including suicidal thoughts and feelings, in various subgroups of the population, including parents, those with existing mental illness or mental health issues, Indigenous people and those with a disability or who identify as LGBTQ+. This […]Continue readingCOVID-19 effects on the mental health of vulnerable populations: Wave 1

Going it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs

It is often said that small business is the backbone of the Canadian economy and that when entrepreneurs succeed, so does Canada. Considering the importance of small and medium-sized businesses to the Canadian economy, the health and well-being of entrepreneurs is a critical public health issue. The study, “Going it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs,” aims […]Continue readingGoing it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs

Cohesive, Collaborative, Collective: Advancing Mental Health Promotion in Canada

                  To mark its 68th annual Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) calls for a national mental health promotion strategy to help shore up Canadians’ mental health in the face of rising rates of mental illness worldwide. To be effective, the national mental health promotion […]Continue readingCohesive, Collaborative, Collective: Advancing Mental Health Promotion in Canada