Victoria, BC (February 17, 2026) – In a time of economic uncertainty, Coast Mental Health and the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division (CMHA BC) welcome the news that Budget 2026 protects previous commitments to mental health and substance use care spending. However, the one additional mental health and substance use investment added to Budget 2026 commits $131M to the most expensive form of mental health care possible, with a strong focus on expansion of involuntary treatment.
“Everyone is facing difficult financial choices right now, but real costs come when we wait for crisis or severe illness to provide care. Housing and upstream, community-based mental health investments are among the few that both save money and improve lives,” said Keir Macdonald, CEO of Coast Mental Health.
Previous budget commitments and government grants are building a critical infrastructure of early community-based care that is saving and changing lives in cost effective ways. More people can ask once and get help fast and these are important gains. Budget 2026 adds incremental spending to school-based mental health supports and to behavioural and mental health services for children, youth and families with disabilities. However, Budget 2026 missed an important opportunity to expand and sustain broader community-based mental health care.
“When people across the province are struggling to afford housing, food, and basic necessities, paying out‑of‑pocket for mental health and substance use care is simply beyond reach,” said Jonny Morris, CEO of CMHA BC. “Without growing public investment, people will delay or forgo care until they reach crisis — at far greater human and financial cost. Budget 2026 was an opportunity to ensure voluntary, community-based services grow to meet the current unmet need. Instead, the focus on involuntary treatment means people will have to wait until they are in an acute crisis to access services.”
Looking Ahead
“People in BC are dealing with unprecedented uncertainty,” said Morris. “In times like these, we need more mental health resources — not less.”
“Protecting what works is both fiscally responsible and the right thing to do,” added Macdonald. “Housing with supports is one of the most cost‑effective investments governments can make.”
CMHA BC and Coast Mental Health call on the Province to commit to sustained multi-year core funding for community mental health services, as recommended by the Select Standing Committee on Finance, and to direct a share of available federal Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians bilateral health funding to mental health and substance use services.
About Coast Mental Health
Coast Mental Health is one of BC’s largest non‑profit organizations with more than 50 years of experience providing housing, support, and employment services to people living with mental illness. Coast supports over 3,000 clients through housing, support services, and employment and education at more than 50 sites across the Lower Mainland.
About CMHA BC
The Canadian Mental Health Association of BC (CMHA BC) is a province‑wide organization that promotes the mental health of all British Columbians and supports access to mental health and substance use services through a network of community‑based programs and advocacy initiatives. CMHA BC provided direct support through mental health programs, education services, and initiatives to more than 195,000 people across the province, reaching 1.2 million through mental health awareness and engagement efforts.
Media Contacts
CMHA BC: Media@cmha.bc.ca
Coast Mental Health: media@coastmentalhealth.com
