While Canadians enjoy a public health system that is often considered a model for other countries, there remain significant pockets of needs that cannot be met solely by government funding.

One area of significant unmet medical need is mental health.  Although mental health is fundamental to individual well-being and the effective functioning of a community, it is chronically underfunded in our society.  Mental illness affects people of all ages, education and income levels, and culture.  It is one of the most prevalent forms of illness in Canada; about 6.7 million – one in five Canadians – are affected in any given year, with an annual cost to the economy in excess of $50 billion. It is estimated that over 40% of Canadians will personally experience mental illness in their lifetime. 

COS supports several organizations that provide access to community-based services aimed at improving the quality of life of those suffering with mental illness.  This includes Wood’s Homes, a community-owned and operated children’s mental health centre based in Calgary.  The objective of Woods Home’s is to help at-risk young people reach adulthood, achieve their potential and become productive members of the community.  COS also supports the mental health clinic of the Alberta Children’s Hospital, as well as the Distress Centre.