Filipino BC Joins National Call for Universal Mental Health Care in Canada

OCTOBER 10, 2025

On World Mental Health Day, Filipino BC joins the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and advocacy organizations nationwide in calling for universal mental health care to be enshrined as a fundamental part of Canada’s health care system.

We are urging the federal government to make the legislative changes necessary to guarantee access to mental health care as a constitutional right, and for the Province of British Columbia to amend the Mental Health Act and provide sustained funding to ensure the sector is equipped to meet growing needs.

“The Filipino community in British Columbia has been deeply affected by the ongoing mental health crisis and the devastating consequences of inadequate access to care,” said Kristina Corpin-Moser, Executive Director of Filipino BC. “We cannot have conversations about involuntary holds without addressing the preventative supports that could keep people from reaching crisis points in the first place. True mental health care means accessible, culturally informed counselling and psychosocial supports for everyone — not just in emergencies, but as part of a robust health care system that treats mental health as health.”

The tragic events of April 26 and the social fallout that followed must serve as a wake-up call for all levels of government.

Canada’s health care system, governed by the Canada Health Act, prioritizes medically necessary services — but therapy and counselling are typically excluded. As a result, many Canadians face financial, systemic, and informational barriers to care. Marginalized communities — including Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, and immigrant populations — experience these inequities even more acutely.

The evidence is clear:

• 87% of Canadians support integrating mental health services into the universal health care system (CMHA, 2023).

• The mental health of Canadians is now three times worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic (CMHA, 2024).

• Countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia have successfully implemented publicly funded mental health programs that have improved outcomes and access.

Experts warn that chronic underfunding makes it harder to respond to emergencies and that the complexity of mental health issues continues to grow. Investing in universal mental health care is not only a moral imperative — it is also a sound economic decision that reduces hospitalizations, strengthens workforce participation, and improves quality of life. Mental health must be addressed holistically and in connection with the broader social determinants of health, including housing, food security, childcare, and education. This is not the responsibility of a single level of government. A coordinated, multi-level response is essential to building a system that truly meets the needs of people across Canada.

Jonny Morris, CEO, CMHA BC Division adds “There has never been a more urgent time for governments at all levels to ensure that mental health and physical health care are on the same footing and treated equally as seriously. CMHA BC joins Filipino BC in calling for a system of care where you can ask once and get quality help fast, so we can prevent crises and support people to live happy and fulfilling lives in community.”

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please don't hesitate to contact one of these resources for care. Remember, you are not alone. Please visit our resource page: https://filipinobc.com/resources.

Learn more about CMHA's Campaign for Universal Mental Health Care: cmha.ca/campaign-for-universal-mental-health-care/.