Madam Chair, members of the committee, thank you very much for inviting me to participate in your study.
I'm pleased to be here with you today.
My name is Sarah Kennell. I'm joined online by my colleague, Jonny Morris. We represent the Canadian Mental Health Association, the largest provider of community mental health services in Canada, with a presence in over 330 communities across every province and Yukon.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear today regarding CMHA's recommendation for budget 2026: the renewal of a dedicated 10-year, $5-billion investment from the federal government in mental health and addictions care.
A decade ago, the federal government recognized that too many Canadians were unable to access timely, affordable mental health care and made critically needed investments through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories that explicitly focused on mental health and addiction services. That funding is scheduled to end on March 31, 2027.
This matters, because most mental health services are not covered under Canada's public universal health care system. Canadians therefore must often pay out of pocket for services such as counselling and other supports, if they can afford them at all. During an ongoing cost of living crisis, access to mental health care has become an affordability challenge no less real than housing or food security.
It also matters because having good mental health is an important part of our economic infrastructure. At least 500,000 Canadians miss work every week due to mental health challenges, and nearly one in three Canadians reports that their work is affected by their mental health.
Mental health is also the leading reason for disability claims and workplace disability costs for issues around depression, anxiety and burnout. The Canadian Standards Association recently estimated that Canadians' poor mental health costs the economy $180 billion annually across health care, emergency services, the criminal justice system and homelessness supports.
At a moment of economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability, Canada needs a healthy and resilient workforce. Investments in mental health help people remain attached to work, return to work sooner and avoid crises that place greater strain on hospitals, police and other public services.
Committee members, I'm sharing my time today with my colleague Jonny Morris, the CEO of CMHA's B.C. division, who is joining us virtually to share an example of what this dedicated federal funding has made possible for young people and families in British Columbia.
Jonny, it's over to you.