About the strategy
About the Strategy
City Council initiated the development of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy in 2018 by earmarking $25 million to address the growing mental health and addiction challenges facing the community.
Community leaders from various sectors, including health, government, education, police services, and non-profit organizations, formed a cross-sector Stewardship Group to guide the Strategy’s development through comprehensive consultation.
In April 2021, Council approved A Community of Connections: Calgary's Mental Health and Addiction Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023.
A cross-sector Leadership Group was established to guide the Strategy’s implementation. From 2021-2023, their diverse skills, education and lived experience shaped the early phase of this work. These leaders helped spark hope, build connections, and improve the lives of Calgarians. The City of Calgary thanks these leaders and many others for laying the foundation for the Strategy’s continued progress.
| Name | Organization | Sector/Representation |
|---|---|---|
| Melanie Hulsker | The City of Calgary | Government |
| Katie McLellan | Calgary Police Service | Policing |
| Earl Thiessen | Oxford House | Lived Experience, Not-For-Profit |
| Joanne Pitman | Calgary Board of Education | Education |
| Sara Jordan | CMHA – Calgary | Not-For-Profit |
| Joanne Klein | PETRONAS Canada | Business |
| Patricia Jones | Calgary Homeless Foundation | Funding, Not-For-Profit |
| Karen Gosbee | Community Advocate | Lived Experience |
| Janet Chafe | Alberta Health Services | Health |
| Karen Young | United Way of Calgary and Area | Funding, Community Investment |
Collaborative Funding
A Community Investment Table was established with a collaborative of six, generous community partners to invest in innovative fast pilot projects through the Change Can’t Wait! funding stream, further amplifying the City’s investment in this work. Funding allocations are overseen by administration in collaboration with the Community Investment Table, to co-invest in fast pilot projects which address issues related to mental health, addiction, and public safety.
Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Investment Framework
The City also supports the Mental Health and Addiction Strategy through broader investments, including the Connect the Dots! funding stream and the complementary Community Safety Investment Framework.
The City continues to help advance the work by:
- Convening through a Community of Practice;
- Connecting to funding opportunities;
- Bringing data and research into practice;
- Supporting communication so that more Calgarians know where to go for help;
- Reporting and accountability to Council and Calgarians.
In 2025, The first Community of Practice was hosted in January.
- In 2023, Council approves annual funding of $6 million for Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy.
- The Five-Year Evaluation of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy and Action Plan is completed.
- In 2024, the first Mental Health of Calgarians survey is commissioned.
- In 2021, Council approves “A Community of Connections: Calgary Mental Health and Addiction Community Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023.”
- A cross-sector Leadership Group and Implementation/Action Teams form to direct and support implementation of the Strategy’s actions.
- In 2022, Council allocates one-time funding of $19 million to support the implementation of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy through 2026.
- In 2022, Council approves annual funding of $8 million for the Community Safety Investment Framework.
- In 2018, Council earmarks $25 million to develop and implement a community-wide mental health and addiction strategy.
- In 2019, a cross-sector Stewardship Group is formed to guide the development of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy.
- The City also convenes the Community Investment Table bringing together The City and community funders to invest in innovative ‘fast pilots’.
Supporting Calgarians: Why Calgary has a Mental Health and Addiction Strategy
Mental health or addiction challenges can impact anyone, at any stage of life, and in many ways.
The City of Calgary funds and supports strategic community initiatives that complement important provincial services without duplication. While the Province provides critical mental health and addiction service and treatment, The City supports local organizations by strengthening community connections and helping Calgarians access the information and resources they need.
The 2024 Mental Health of Calgarians Report, commissioned by the City of Calgary, shows that:
- Over half of Calgarians have felt they needed mental health care in the past, and 70% of those felt they needed it in the past year.
- 33% of Calgarians have rated their mental health as fair or poor.
- Only 49% of Calgarians are satisfied with mental health programs and services in Calgary.
- Approximately 32% of Calgarians don’t know where to go for help.
The City of Calgary and local community partners are committed to supporting Calgarians to Be Well, Get Help, and Stay Safe as part of the ongoing effort to make Calgary a safe, strong community for everyone.
Together, The City is working to make Calgary a place where people can live, work, and play in a community that helps them thrive.
Mental Health and Addiction Strategy Framework
Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy is guided by a community-informed framework focused on one central goal: Creating hope and strengthening support for Calgarians. This goal is driven by three pillars: Being Well, Getting Help and Staying Safe. The strategic framework outlines how this collaborative work can bring a positive impact to the community.
The outcomes for Calgarians are:
- Improved service access and navigation.
- Increased community safety.
- Resilient people and communities.
- Increased knowledge.
- Reduced stigma.
Evaluation and Reporting
The City of Calgary is committed to the ongoing evaluation of its role in implementing the Strategy and assessing the impact of funded programs through the Strategy’s Investment Framework.
Five-Year Evaluation
In late 2023, The City’s the Demographics and Evaluation team completed a five-year review of the Strategy’s implementation from July 2018 and June 2023. The evaluation highlighted key outcomes, effective systems and processes, and areas of improvement. It also provided recommendations to guide future actions and strengthen impact.
The City of Calgary continues to work towards implementing the recommendations outlined in the Five-Year Evaluation and is committed to ongoing feedback, process reviews and evaluation to guide the work.
Council Reports
To ensure accountability, City Administration provides regular briefing reports to Council and community on the Strategy’s implementation and the impact of the funding investments.