Ontario Human Rights Commission issues new policy on rights of people with mental illness and addictions

The new policy – which comes at a time when statistics suggest one in five Canadians experience a mental health illness in any given year – offers those dealing with mental illness, as well as their employers, landlords and other service providers “user-friendly” advice on how to best identify and combat rights violations.

This policy is saying that people with mental health issues are protected under the human rights code. They have rights. Employers, service providers, landlords all have responsibilities and we need to understand those better and then we need to take action to remove the barriers.

Individuals dealing with mental health issues are guaranteed equal rights and opportunities under Ontario’s Human Rights Code in areas such as jobs, housing and services. But the commission said many still continue to face “considerable discrimination, stigma and social exclusion.

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Here is an explination of the Policy and the Fact Sheet providing additional information.