Ontario Boosts Mental Health Supports for People Across the Province

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

Province Funding Increased Mental Health Programs and Services Through 2017 Budget

Toronto, ON – May 3, 2017

As part of the 2017 Budget, Ontario is boosting funding for mental health services and supports for people across the province.

Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, and Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, were at the University of Toronto today to highlight $6 million in additional funding for three years to support mental health services and supports at Ontario’s colleges and universities.

This is part of a broader investment in mental health services across the province announced in the 2017 budget, which also includes:
•Expanding access to existing psychotherapy services while developing a new province-wide publicly funded psychotherapy program to help people living with conditions such as anxiety and depression
•Supporting up to nine integrated youth service hubs to provide young people with walk-in, one-stop access to mental health and addictions services, as well as other health, social and employment supports under one roof
•Providing free prescription medications for youth 24 years of age and younger through OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare – the first universal drug program of its kind in Canada.

Investing in mental health services and supports is part of Ontario’s plan to increase access to care, reduce wait times and improve the patient experience through its Patients First Action Plan for Health Care and OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare Program – protecting health care today and into the future.