Establish a new federal transfer to provinces and territories—the Canada Mental Health Transfer—to assist jurisdictions to expand the delivery of high- quality, accessible, and free mental health services. Building on the principles of universality and accessibility in the Canada Health Act, this transfer will help establish standards in each province and territory, so that Canadians are able to expect services that are timely, universal, and culturally competent. This will help each jurisdiction focus on and solve critical backlogs in service and provide help to those who need it, according to the unique needs in each region.

Commit to permanent, ongoing funding for mental health services under the Canada Mental Health Transfer, with an initial investment of $4.5 billion over 5 years. Including the existing bilateral agreement on mental health services signed in 2017, this would bring federal support for mental health services to $2.5 billion per year by 2025-26. This is in addition to further investments we will make to support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities with better access to trauma and mental health services.

Undertake a comprehensive review of access to the Disability Tax Credit, CPP-Disability and other federal benefits and programs to ensure they are available to people experiencing mental health challenges.

Include mental health as a specific element of occupational health and safety under the Canada Labour Code and require federally regulated employers to take preventative steps to address workplace stress and injury.

Fully fund a national, three-digit mental health crisis and suicide prevention hotline.

Work with partners to ensure timely access to perinatal mental health services.

— Forward. For Everyone., retrieved 2021-09-02

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• Propose to the provinces that they partner with us by dedicating a significant portion of the stable, predictable health funding to mental health to ensure that an additional million Canadians can receive mental health treatment every year;

• Encourage employers to add mental health coverage to their employee benefit plans by offering a tax credit for 25% of the cost of additional mental health coverage for the first three years;

• Create a pilot program to provide $150 million over three years in grants to non-profits and charities delivering mental health and wellness programming; and

• Create a nationwide three-digit suicide prevention hotline.

— Canada's Recovery Plan, retrieved 2021-08-18

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1. Establish a national mental health strategy and a suicide prevention strategy

● Negotiate the Canada Health Accord to prioritize expansion of mental health and rehabilitation services, and call for the inclusion of mental health services as medically necessary.

● Allocate increased direct federal investment in community-based mental health care.

● Establish robust accountability mechanisms to ensure the delivery of mental health care on par with physical health.

2. Increase investments in Indigenous-led mental health

● Increased support for Indigenous-led, culturally safe, mental health programs and services, rooted in Indigenous healing practices, land-based healing and the principle of self-determination.

● Ensure all programming is guided by the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework.

● Establish permanent program funding for the delivery of land-based, trauma-informed, community addictions care for Indigenous peoples.

● Increase targeted investment in the mental health workforce serving Indigenous communities.

● Double the current budget of the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative.

● Take active steps to implement Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, specifically those related to mental health.

3. Support First Nations, Métis and Inuit in (re)building traditional knowledge systems around healing and wellness

● Incorporate the formal inclusion of traditional healing within mental wellness and home and community care programs.

● Ensure this process is led by First Nations, Métis Nation and Inuit organizations.

4. Invest in youth mental health.

● Provide specific funding for early mental health interventions, including social and emotional learning programs, quality and accessible early childhood education, access to community-based mental health services for parents and caregivers, youth peer support programs, mobile youth mental health clinics, etc.

● Launch a targeted strategy aimed at ensuring timely access to mental health services for young people and children

● Provide funding for prevention, treatment, and research related to youth mental health, to address the growing crisis of mental health issues among young people.

● Call for a national study on the impact of phones and social media on mental health in adolescents.

5. Invest in community supportive housing

● Creating housing stock alone will not necessarily meet the needs of those with severe and/or chronic mental health issues. Supportive housing combines access to affordable units with intensive coordinated services. It would include rental supplements/allowances, case management, counselling, assistance with medication, and life skills training.

— Be Daring., retrieved 2021-09-11

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