$28 Million for Mental Health

 

Ontario Investing $28 Million in Mental Health and Addictions Services

Ontario is investing in local mental health and addictions organizations to provide care closer to home for people who are experiencing mental health and addictions challenges.  The province is also creating a province-wide registry of mental health beds to connect those experiencing a mental health crisis with the closest available bed.

This investment will support mental health and addictions services, including:

• Increased access to services such as supportive housing, short-term crisis support beds, peer support groups and treatment programs
• Shorter wait times for care through the new registry of inpatient mental health beds. It will provide doctors, first responders and emergency departments with up-to-date information about available inpatient beds across the province
• Improved transitions between care teams so people do not have to tell their story multiple times
• More early intervention initiatives to reduce repeat visits to emergency departments. For example, expanding the number of early psychosis intervention teams to help people early on after onset of psychosis

The next phase of Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy includes $138 million over three years for community agencies to support improvements to mental health and addictions services, through Local Health Integration Networks.

Supporting mental health and addictions services closer to home is part of Ontario’s Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care. It is also part of the government’s four-part plan to build Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

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