The City of Toronto released their new strategy to deal with the increase of mental health and substance abuse issues in the city on Monday.<\/p>\n
The strategy is a seven point plan to address the current toxic drug supply crisis and the dropping mental health of Toronto citizens, with a focus on prevention, programming and community support.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health issues are the leading cause of disabilities in Canada, affecting one in two Canadians by the age of 40. And while the evidence shows it, I know that we all see it and feel it among our communities and in our circles,\u201d says Ausma Malik, deputy mayor of Toronto. \u201cNo one is unaffected by the impacts of mental health and substance use. And challenges persist, the ones that we know well, and they include the drug toxicity crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The seven point plan include:<\/p>\n
These points come with the release of data from the City regarding mental health. Surveys done by the City have found that the mental health of Torontonians young and old has seen a drastic drop. In 2021, the City found that 55 per cent of adults in Toronto reported \u201cvery good or excellent\u201d mental health; a 16 per cent drop from 2017. Among youth from grades 7-12, only 44 per cent said their mental health was \u201cvery good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan also seeks to address the drug related issues in the city and the toxic drug supply crisis. In 2022, the City found that there were 3,876 deaths related to alcohol, tobacco and toxic drugs, with 506 being from toxic opioid drug supply - a 271 per cent increase from 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cPreventing harms involves investing in children and families and neighbourhoods. Fostering resilience and coping mechanisms. Importantly, promoting mental health in the workplace is a key aspect impacting organizational effectiveness, productivity and overall health,\u201d says Mary Madigan-Lee, chief people officer of Toronto. \u201cThis work cannot be done in isolation. It requires the collective commitment of individuals, communities, businesses, agencies and all levels of government to join us in shaping a Toronto where the mental health and well being of all residents are prioritized and substance use related harms are diminished.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city has four priorities they plan to have implemented for the first year of the new strategy. They are create more affordable housing, 24-7 spaces \u201clow-barrier crisis stabilization spaces'' for mental health or drug issues, and increased collaboration with first responders for seamless transfer to appropriate services. Lastly, they plan to expand the Community Crisis Service to be the fourth Toronto emergency service.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Toronto, individuals in mental health and substance use crises often can't access the supports they need. And they find themselves without support, especially after hours, which really can lead to detrimental outcomes,\u201d says Susan Davis, executive director of Gerstein Crisis Center. \u201cEstablishing 24\/7 crisis centres would offer community based timely trauma informed harm reduction responses, reducing strain on first responders and emergency departments.\u201d<\/p>\n