Ontario Improving Mental Health Services for People Across the Province
Ontario is continuing to improve access to mental health and addictions services by expanding psychotherapy programs across the province, which will support more than 100,000 people with conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Marking the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week, Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, made the announcement at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto today, where the province is also celebrating the start of construction on the redevelopment of CAMH's Queen West site. The CAMH redevelopment involves the construction of 655,000 square feet of new space, which will include 235 inpatient beds, an emergency room open 24/7, research and education facilities, as well as parks and retail space within the surrounding neighbourhood.
As part of Ontario's commitment to develop a provincewide, publicly funded psychotherapy program, the government is investing in the following proven programs, which will help more than 100,000 people treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression:
In-person individual and group psychotherapy counselling programs coordinated through Ontario's four speciality mental health hospitals -- CAMH, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Royal Ottawa Health Care Group and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care -- in partnership with community-based providers. These programs will be provided through local primary care providers and community mental health agencies, and will also be available remotely through the Ontario Telemedicine Network.
Bounce Back, a coaching program managed by Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, which includes telephone support and instructional workbooks that help people learn skills to address problems related to moderate depression and anxiety.
Online mental health self-management tools coordinated by the Ontario Telemedicine Network.
These programs will roll out across the province over the next three years. People can access these progra ms and other mental health supports by speaking to their primary care provider, visiting their local community mental health and addictions centre, or by contacting ConnexOntario.
Ontario is increasing access to care, reducing wait times and improving the patient experience through its Patients First Action Plan for Health Care and OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare - protecting health care today and into the future.