A coalition of 15 community organizations on Wednesday called on political parties to make mental health a priority issue in the provincial election campaign.

The Community Mental Health Coalition notes a decrease in the amounts allocated to mental health, which now represent only 6.4% of the expenditures of the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Such a situation raises the concern of organizations who believe that, on the contrary, spending should increase to act on the social determinants of health, while the needs have exploded since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Community Mental Health Coalition offers political parties wording on their commitment to make mental health an electoral issue that requires a comprehensive approach.

"Mental health must be a priority issue in the election campaign and be the subject of ambitious commitments by political parties, recognizing the need for a variety of support, including community approaches," said Christina Charron-St-Pierre, co-spokesperson for the Coalition and director of the Community Mental Health Network.

"The government cannot do without community mental health organizations and their innovative approach if it wishes to have a real impact on improving living conditions that affect people's mental health," added Jérôme Gaudreault, co -Coalition spokesperson and director of the Quebec Association for Suicide Prevention.