TORONTO –The McGuinty government is improving access to community-based mental health services for 34,000 more Ontarians this year, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"By allowing more people to receive the care they need in their communities instead of in institutions, we are helping to lift the stigma that surrounds mental illness," said Smitherman. "With this investment thousands more people can receive care from professionals they know and trust, closer to home."

The McGuinty government is investing $58.3 million this year. This funding is part of its unprecedented four-year, $185-million plan to help people with mental illness benefit from expanded services by 2007/08 and to stabilize existing services. In 2004/05 - the first year of the plan - more than 13,600 people gained access to community-based mental health services.

These services include :

• Case management to identify and provide ongoing services and supports to keep people with serious mental illness in the community
• Crisis response to provide access to a range of services and supports on a 24/7 basis to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as support to families and caregivers
• Early intervention to ensure adolescents and young adults receive needed treatment and support at the onset of their illness, and to support families and caregivers in helping patients cope with their illness
• Assertive Community Treatment Teams, which are multi-disciplinary clinical teams providing intensive ongoing support and comprehensive treatment
• Supportive Housing with mental health services for people who require long-term support.

In addition, addiction treatment programs like withdrawal management, residential support and community counselling will receive new funding to stabilize their existing operations.

"Twenty percent of Canadians will personally experience mental illness in their lifetime," Smitherman said. "Our four year-plan recognizes the need for a broad range of community supports. We are providing unprecedented care for those with mental illness."

"These additional resources will assist community-based services to better meet the mental health service needs of individuals where and when they need them," said Martha Connoy, President of the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs. "Improved wait-times and access to services will be a priority."

This initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

Backgrounder Quotes 1 page | 15k | PDF format

Backgrounder Expanding Community-Based Health Services 18 pages | 27k | PDF format

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