FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 16, 2019
QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario’s mental health care system is disconnected, making it difficult for patients and families to get the care and services they need. This leaves many vulnerable Ontarians to navigate a confusing system on their own and access timely mental health care only when in crisis. Too many Ontarians wait too long for the mental health and addictions services they need. This fragmented approach to care is failing Ontario’s families and is simply not good enough.
“In response, Ontario’s government is adding desperately needed mental health and addictions services on the ground, in schools, communities and health centres across the province,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett.
Locally, this will mean $78,140 in funding for Haldimand-Norfolk REACH for children’s youth and mental health.
This is part of the additional $174 million in funding to address the critical gaps in Ontario’s system and to support patients and families living with mental health and addictions challenges. To ensure mental health and addiction service providers have stable, long-term funding, the government will be making this additional funding available every year.
Included in the overall investment of $174 million is nearly $30 million for child and youth mental health services and programs across Ontario, as well as more than $27 million to fund mental health supports in Ontario’s education system, which will directly benefit schools, teachers and, most importantly, students and their parents.
“Our government is keeping our promise to make mental health and addictions a priority,” Barrett said. “This additional funding will go directly towards services for patients and families and help build capacity in child and youth mental health.”
This is part of the government’s commitment to invest $3.8 billion over the next 10 years to develop and implement a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions strategy.
“Together, we will create a connected system of care with comprehensive wrap-around services to ensure that every Ontarian is fully supported in their journey toward mental wellness,” Barrett said.
QUICK FACTS
- The government has held 19 consultations across the province with mental health and addictions community organizations, frontline service providers, hospitals, advocates, experts, people with lived experience and people with experience in Indigenous mental health and addictions
- The government will invest $3.8 billion over 10 years to develop and implement a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions strategy.
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For more information contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org