CMHA of New Brunswick Welcomes Provincial Health Plan and Calls for Continued Investment in Mental Health and Addictions Care.

Oct 8, 2025

The Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick (CMHANB) welcomes the Government of New Brunswick’s new Caring for New Brunswick: Putting People at the Heart of Health Care plan as a positive and promising step towards creating a more connected, compassionate, and people-focused health system.

The new plan, released today, provides a clear direction for transforming healthcare delivery across the province. It highlights key priorities such as increased access to collaborative care teams, enhanced community-based services, culturally safe partnerships with Indigenous communities, and a renewed emphasis on mental health and addictions.

CMHANB CEO Christa Baldwin said the plan shows a positive shift towards the type of health system that New Brunswickers have long been asking for; one that considers mental health and addictions as vital parts of overall health.

While CMHANB welcomes these commitments, Baldwin stressed that sustained and increased investment will ultimately determine the plan’s effectiveness. According to the “The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024” report, released last November, New Brunswick allocates an average of 6 percent of its total health budget to mental health and addictions, which is half the internationally recommended benchmark of 12 percent. The report also shows that Atlantic Canadians continue to experience some of the highest rates of poor mental health and substance-use harms in the country, along with longer wait times for community-based services.

The direction of the plan is correct, and the government deserves credit for recognizing the need for system-wide collaboration,” Baldwin said. “Now the real work begins, and that will require bold investment, clear coordination and leadership. If we want timely, equitable, and high-quality care, mental health and addictions funding must increase to meet the demand we see every day in our communities.”

“This plan marks an important turning point for our province,” Baldwin said. “It recognizes that mental health is health, and that timely, compassionate, and community-based supports must be part of how we care for New Brunswickers at every stage of life. The emphasis on integration, collaboration, and equity provides a strong foundation to build upon.”

Baldwin noted that CMHANB is proud to play a leading role in supporting some of the initiatives outlined in the plan, including the expansion of Youth Wellness Hubs. These community hubs are designed to provide safe, accessible spaces where young people can find help for mental health, substance use, and wellness needs under one roof. CMHANB serves as the administrative host for this initiative, working closely with the Department of Health and community partners to ensure that young people can access the right help, at the right time, close to home.

“Through the Youth Wellness Hubs, we are already seeing how early, community-based intervention can make a real difference,” Baldwin said. “Young people are finding trusted supports, families are feeling less alone, and communities are becoming stronger.”

The health plan also highlights the integration of mental health services within family health teams by 2028. It details a strategy for expanding Stepped Care 2.0, ensuring individuals can transition smoothly between different levels of support as their needs change.

Baldwin said the organization is especially encouraged by the plan’s focus on addiction treatment and recovery, including the development of new residential treatment capacity, improved wait-time tracking, and the integration of mental health and substance-use care. These measures, she said, will help create a system that supports people through every stage of recovery, from prevention to treatment to long-term support.

“We know that mental health and substance use often intersect, and recovery looks different for every person,” Baldwin said. “By building a continuum of care that combines compassion with accountability, we can help more New Brunswickers find their way back to wellness.”

CMHANB also commended the province’s commitment to building a learning health system that utilizes data, continuous feedback, and partnerships with community organizations to inform decision-making and measure progress.

“We share the government’s vision of a system that learns, adapts, and grows with the people it serves,” Baldwin said. “By investing in prevention, early intervention, and collaboration, New Brunswick can become a leader in making mental health and addictions care a true pillar of the provincial health system.”

As the province advances with its new health plan, CMHANB reaffirmed its commitment to work with the Department of Health, regional health authorities, and community partners to keep mental health and addictions at the centre of the transformation.

“Together, we can build a future where every New Brunswicker has access to care that is timely, affordable, and grounded in dignity and respect,” Baldwin concluded. “This plan lays the groundwork – and with sustained investment, we can turn it into lasting change.”