The Role of CAMH Foundation

The world needs CAMH to help combat the global mental health crisis

According to the World Health Organization, around 450 million people currently struggle with mental illness, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. Here at home, it affects more than 6.7 million of us. In fact, one in two Canadians have—or have had—a mental illness by the time they reach 40 years of age. Alarming statistics like these underscore the great need for community support through philanthropy.

• In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness or addiction problem.
• 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.
• Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada
• About 4,000 Canadians per year die by suicide—an average of almost 11 suicides a day. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
• While mental illness accounts for about 10% of the burden of disease in Ontario, it receives just 7% of health care dollars. Relative to this burden, mental health care in Ontario is underfunded by about $1.5 billion

Philanthropy at work

CAMH Foundation raises funds for the highest priority needs of the hospital. With these funds, CAMH advances world-leading research, delivers high-quality clinical care, educates the mental health care professionals of the future, builds new patient care facilities, and raises awareness.

CAMH’s work has never been more important. Our donors have helped lay the foundation for discovery and excellence at CAMH—and now it’s time to build on it together. Accelerating mental health research and innovation will transform diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and improve outcomes for people living with mental illness. Philanthropy will fuel new discoveries—including supporting the people and programs that drive this work forward—and build state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge technology that will enable the next big breakthroughs. Today’s investment in research at CAMH will transform mental health for future generations.

Building the future of mental health

Since 2005, CAMH Foundation has embarked on redeveloping decades-old facilities to create more respectful, recovery-focused spaces for patients. The latest phase of redevelopment created new research programs, new mental illness treatments, and the expansion of emergency care services. Read how donor support revitalized CAMH’s emergency department, Ontario’s only 24/7 psychiatric emergency department.

Our newest McCain Complex Care & Recovery Building and the Crisis & Critical Care Building at the Queen Street campus embodies everything Mental Health is Health means: integrating care, research and education in one location; creating inclusive, respectful and dignified spaces for recovery; connecting CAMH to our community. The new buildings remind people that, even in their most difficult moments, CAMH is where they will find help and hope. They show our community and the world what we can achieve when we work together.