‘Tough Calls’: CMHA Meets with Mayor on Cuts to Mental Health, Counseling Funding

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Calgary’s mayor has met with the local head of the Canadian Mental Health Association about the funding shortage, but there are no plans to revive the counseling programs due to end this month.

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The CMHA tweeted earlier this month that it will be closing its counseling department in Calgary at the end of March.

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Programs affected include suicide bereavement, Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, grief and loss, and individual, closed group, and walk-in counseling.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek met on Monday with Sara Jordan, executive director of the Calgary region of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Gondek said the meeting went well.

“Sara and I are very aware of the importance of mental health supports. And we both recognize that there must be alliances between the federal and provincial governments, working with the municipalities”.

She said Jordan provided statistics on how other provinces and countries far outpace Alberta when it comes to money invested in mental health programs.

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“When I think about the public safety issues that we’re seeing, the incredible situations of vulnerability with people struggling to find housing, to find employment, they need a lot of support,” Gondek said.

“When money disappears, you have to make difficult decisions”

CMHA previously received just over $544,750 from the city through the Family and Community Support Services Program. It is a joint municipal-provincial program that gives money to non-profit social service organizations.

Although FCSS funding is a joint program, municipalities make the final decision on the allocation of funds.

Gondek said the decision not to fund CMHA this year was a difficult one.

“When money disappears, you have to make tough decisions. And so even though the city stepped in and provided funding, we just can’t take it anymore,” he said.

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The province increased funding for FCSS by five percent in 2023, bringing its contribution to $105 million province-wide. Calgary received just under 40 percent of provincial funding in 2022.

Social, Community and Aging Services Minister Jeremy Nixon said in an emailed statement to Postmedia that his government recognized the importance of FCSS.

“This increase at the provincial end also ensures that the municipality provides its fair share with an 80/20 split of funds. By allowing municipalities to decide how the money is allocated, local needs can be met. We continue our commitment to support Albertans in need of mental health support, which is why Budget 2023 provides a historic $275 million for that purpose.”

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Jordan said he understood that there were simply more organizations competing for funding and that difficult decisions had to be made based on specific criteria.

He said that so far, CMHA has not found any funding source to replace the $500,000 it received through FCSS, and said he hopes other levels of government will recognize a need for the types of services provided by his organization.

“Community mental health is very important to all of us. It helps us live healthy lives and stay out of ERs and hospitals. And I would like to see a day when the value of mental health supports from the neck down is given the same importance.”

CMHA will continue to work in Calgary providing community education, peer support, and housing and support for people leaving acute care hospital psychiatric units.

Jordan said it would be possible to reopen his advisory service if he had a multi-year funding commitment.

— With files from Stephanie Babych

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Twitter: @brodie_thomas