The standard of living is exceptional for the wealthy, but at least 50% of households do not have sufficient income to live a healthy life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing mental health problems, while shining a light on the inequities in access to services and supports in Toronto. There have been increased rates of some adult mental illnesses, but this has been dwarfed by decreases in mental wellness, increased rates of staff burnout, a substance use and overdose crisis and significant increases in psychological issues among children and youth.

The focus on the minority of people who have a mental illness is understandable, but it is a mistake to neglect the mental wellness and psychological health needs of the majority.

There is an urgent need to improve mental wellness and psychological health in Toronto by addressing past failures to adequately deal with their social drivers such as income inequality, financial insecurity, poverty, poor working conditions, the housing crisis, racism and systemic anti-Black racism.

Toronto’s mental health system remains disjointed and less than what the sum of its parts could be. 

We can have a full response to Toronto’s mental health emergency by co-ordinating our efforts, focusing on the social determinants of health, and balancing our current focus on mental illness with a focus on mental wellness and psychological health. 

The Thrive Toronto Mental Health Plan can help us thrive, make our city a better and more resilient place in which to live and work, improve the economy, and decrease rates of mental illness and the need for mental illness services.  

There is much to do, and it will take a multi-year, multi-sector approach.