Productivity losses from failure to complete high school plus days lost from work due to mental illness add up to a grand total of three and a half billion dollars lost annually, or just over one percent of Ontario's 1996 Gross National Product. But the benefits of treatment and education extend over a lifetime. In the Spring 1998 Throne and Budget speeches, the Ontario government avowed that children are a priority. It's time to make that promise a reality for all children. Legislation Children's mental health services need to be legislated to ensure access to prevention and treatment services.
Legislation provides roots, a sense of security and recognition of shared values.
Without it, services become vulnerable to the changing values and policies of changing governments. Resources More resources are needed to meet the service crisis in children's mental health. The budget for the services has been cut by almost 10 per cent in the last five years. At the same time, funding for adult mental health services has increased. Adequate funding for early intervention and treatment services would result in less use of child protection and young offender services.