Item - 2022.HL38.7

The Board of Health:

1.  Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Manager to report back on the recommendations outlined in Motion 2021.MM37.17 to its next meeting, as follows:

a.  City Council request the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Manager, to investigate options to better coordinate mental health and addictions services in Toronto, including the necessity and feasibility of a dedicated office, and to report to the Board of Health in early 2022; and

b.  City Council request the City Manager to develop an advocacy strategy, including using elected officials, to lobby the Provincial and Federal Governments for increased support for community-based agencies delivering mental health services in Toronto.

At the November 9th, 2021 City Council Meeting, then Ward 13 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam requested that the Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the City Manager, to report back to the Board of Health by “early 2022” on the following items:

-  Investigate options to better coordinate mental health and addictions services in Toronto, including the necessity and feasibility of a dedicated office, and to report to the Board of Health in early 2022.

-  To develop an advocacy strategy, including using elected officials, to lobby the Provincial and Federal Governments for increased support for community-based agencies delivering mental health services in Toronto.

The intention of these recommendations was to explore ways to create a Mental Health and Addictions strategy for the City of Toronto. The early 2022 deadline has now passed and no report has been submitted to the Board of Health.