In Quebec, the housing crisis has emerged as the primary catalyst for mental health challenges among psychiatric patients, as revealed by a survey conducted by the Regroupement des ressources alternatives en santé mentale au Québec (RRASMQ).
This revelation was underscored during a press conference held on Sunday, organized in collaboration with the housing organization Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ).
During the conference, representatives from both organizations presented an open letter directly addressed to Premier François Legault, slated for publication on Tuesday. More than 300 housing and mental health-focused organizations have come together to urge Legault to take decisive action in addressing the ongoing housing crisis.
Cédric Dussault, spokesperson and co-coordinator at RCLALQ, expressed a prevailing sense of hopelessness among tenants, stating, “There’s currently no glimmer of hope.” He further emphasized the escalating despair among tenants reaching out to housing committees and tenants’ associations.
According to Dussault, the surge in mental health issues directly correlates with the housing crisis. The combination of exorbitant rents, evictions, and substandard housing conditions has precipitated feelings of anxiety, depression, and insomnia among individuals, subsequently exacerbating suicidal ideation and other mental health crises.
The RRASMQ, in collaboration with 35 resource organizations specializing in mental health and housing, has drawn conclusive links between these intertwined issues, characterizing them as significant challenges facing Quebec in recent years.
