With municipal election day just six weeks away, the Canadian Mental Health Association is launching a new online resource aimed at helping Ontario candidates better understand some of the biggest challenges facing their communities.
The new CMHA Briefing Room provides practical information on mental health, addictions, homelessness and community safety, while also offering wellness resources to help candidates manage the demands of the campaign trail.
“Municipalities are dealing with the impacts of mental health and addiction every day, whether through homelessness and encampments, community safety concerns, supportive housing or pressure on local services,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO of CMHA Ontario. “The CMHA Briefing Room gives candidates access to credible, evidence-informed information.”
The resource is intended not only for candidates, but also for municipal leaders, members of the media and the public.
Topics covered in the briefing room include:
- Mental health and addictions: Understanding community challenges and evidence-based responses.
- Homelessness and housing: Examining the links between housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions.
- Community safety: Exploring how mental health and addiction issues intersect with public safety concerns.
- Solutions and policy: Highlighting evidence-informed approaches and the role of community mental health services.
CMHA says the resource is designed to help candidates understand where municipalities can take action and where additional support from provincial and federal governments may be required.
The CMHA Briefing Room is available online at cmhabriefingroom.ca.
