Ontario Adding More Mental Health and Addiction Services in Northumberland

Pete Fisher
6 years ago
• Categories: Local

Press Release

The Ontario Government is taking concrete steps to improve the current mental health care system. The current system makes 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 for the People is adding desperately needed mental health and addictions services on the ground, in schools, communities and health centres across the province. MPP David Piccini announced an additional investment of $207,500 this year to support people, families and caregivers in Northumberland – Peterborough South living with mental health and addictions challenges.

This is part of a commitment of $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,” said David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland – Peterborough South. “This additional funding will go directly towards services for patients and families and help both Rebound Child and Youth Services and Northumberland Hills Hospital in the delivery of these vital programs”.

The funding will go towards expanding the Peer Support Service at Northumberland Hills Hospital and the Child and Youth Mental Health program at Rebound Child and Youth Services.

“These investments are part of our 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,” said David Piccini MPP for Northumberland – Peterborough South. “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.”

QUICK FACTS

• Investments in mental health and addictions services is part of Ontario’s plan to modernize our public health care system, which relentlessly focuses on patient experience and better connected care, to reduce wait times and end hallway health care. • 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. • The funds are broken down as follows: o Northumberland Hills Hospital, Lakeshore Program; Peer Support Service: $160,700 o Rebound Child and Youth Services Inc; Child and Youth Mental Health: $46,800