Tuesday, November 17, 2015
CMHA Middlesex
Province Investing $1.2 Million to Help Approximately 2,100 Adults Each Year
Ontario is investing $1.2 million in the creation of a new centre to help adults in London who are dealing with mental health or addictions challenges get the treatment and care they need. The new facility will provide mental health and addictions supports for approximately 2,100 adults each year.
Operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex, the new centre will provide adults facing a mental health or addictions crisis with a safe place to stay for up to 72 hours. The centre will provide clients with assessments, crisis intervention, referrals to longer-term services and follow-ups on their mental health and addictions issues.
The creation of the centre will mean that people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis will be diverted from hospital emergency departments and involvement with police services to a more appropriate community-based setting at the centre.
This funding is part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario's history -- more than $130 billion over 10 years, which will support more than 110,000 jobs per year on average, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals across the province.
Supporting community mental health and addictions services is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the information they need to stay healthy and a health care system that's sustainable for generations to come.
Quick Facts:
- Expanding community-based mental health services is also part of the next phase of Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy. The strategy includes $138 million over three years for community agencies to support improvements to mental health and addictions services.
- The Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex supports more than 4,000 people each year.
- Approximately 30 per cent of Ontarians will experience a mental health and/or substance abuse challenge at some point in their lifetime, with one in 40 Ontarians experiencing a serious mental illness.
Background Information:
Quotes:
" Our government is committed to improving access to community mental health and addictions services. By building a new community crisis centre in London, we're connecting people with the right supports and providing high quality care close to home."
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"I’m so proud our government is investing in the creation of this new crisis centre. This centre will further support individuals who are dealing with mental health and addictions, and connect them with the services they need. It will also help to take pressure off our emergency departments."
— Deb Matthews, MPP, London North Centre
" This is a strong investment in the wellbeing of individuals experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis in our community. If you are in crisis, you will be able to walk through the doors of the crisis centre 24/7 and find support from Addictions Services of Thames Valley and CMHA Middlesex."
— Beth Mitchell, Interim CEO, CMHA Middlesex
Media Contact:
David Jensen
Communications and Marketing Division
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197
Shae Greenfield
Minister's Office
416-325-5230
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