The Canadian Alliance for Mental Illness and Mental Health is calling on Ottawa to take action to improve access to mental health care and substance use care.

The coalition made the plea this morning in Ottawa on World Mental Health Day.

They’re asking for greater access for everyone amid what they say is a mental health and addictions crisis facing each province and territory.

Coalition co-chair Anthony Esposti says improved access is vital.

“There can be no health without mental health and substance use health,” says Esposti, adding it’s “deeply concerning” to learn that half of all people surveyed gave the provinces and territories a failing grade.

“The survey shows overwhelmingly that Canadians don’t have timely access to the care they need and deserve.”

The coalition is calling for establishment of a national mental health and substance use parity act to ensure mental health and substance use health care is given the same priority as physical health.

Earlier this week the family of a Bishop’s Falls man facing charges following a serious incident on the highway through central Newfoundland, went public calling for greater mental health and addictions supports for those who need it the most.

Dr. Chandra Kavanaugh of the Canadian Mental Health Association NL says while there are lots of resources and services available, she acknowledges gaining access has proven challenging for some.

“It is tremendously distressing,” says Kavanaugh. “I almost get emotional just talking about it to be honest.”

She says she’s going through that very issue with someone she has been trying to help for some time.

“Unfortunately, this person is in a position where their family member lived here in NL, moved to one province, and got their appropriate health credentials, moved to another province, so is in a third province with health credentials from a second province coming from this province, and trying to help that person navigate and get their mental health needs met, has been, to be honest with you, impossible.”

Meanwhile, the theme for World Mental Health Day this year is mental health at work.

Dr. Mike Wahl, who hosts the Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle Show on VOCM, says workplace mental health is a “big concern.”

He says every week about 500,000 Canadians report not feeling well enough to go to work, which not only impacts a person’s quality of life, but the economy as well — to the tune of $51 billion a year.

Wahl says there are many supports available locally though the Canadian Mental Health Association, which he notes has itself made internal changes for the sake of their employees’ mental health, such as a shortened work week.