Investing in mental health is a sound strategy

If a government invests in the mental wellness of its people, it will be well on its way to addressing Canadians’ top priorities.
An estimated 1.6 million Canadians have an unmet need for mental health care. And, in 2019, 7.5 million of us will experience a mental health problem. Depression is the leader in disability costs yet garners a scant third of cancer’s funding. Suicide takes the lives of 4,000 Canadians a year, with another 100,000 left reeling from the devastation. We’ve seen over 10,000 deaths from opioid-related overdose since 2016.

With a federal election well underway, there’s lots of talk about hot-button issues. People will be voting for the middle class, for action on climate change, for improved childcare, for better infrastructure, for jobs, jobs, jobs.

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