May 19, 2006

TORONTO - The McGuinty government is providing access to community-based mental health services for 22,910 more Ontarians this year, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"We're on the side of Ontario families who want and deserve the very best health care, including access to quality mental health and addiction treatment services," Smitherman said. "With this investment, thousands more people will receive care from professionals and other care providers they know and trust, closer to home."

The $68.5 million funding announced today includes :

• $23 million for community-based services, including crisis response, early intervention in psychosis and Assertive Community Treatment Teams. This will benefit 14,460 more people.
• $16 million for rent subsidies and case management support to allow 1,250 more people to live in supportive housing units.
• $7 million to increase the base budget for every community mental health agency by 1.5 per cent.
• $22.5 million for community-based services to help 7,200 more people with mental illness stay out of the criminal justice and correctional systems.

"Our government is committed to the fair and compassionate treatment of mentally ill persons," said Attorney General Michael Bryant. "We expect that these community-based enhancements will reduce the number of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system and allow them to access the treatment and services they need."

This new investment is part of the government's unprecedented four-year, $185-million plan to stabilize and expand services for people with mental illness.

"The government continues to take a strong, comprehensive approach to improving the availability of community-based services for people with a mental illness and addictions," said David Kelly, Executive Director, Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addictions Programs. "This investment will make sure additional resources are in place so that people can receive the services and treatments they need in their community."

This is just the latest McGuinty government initiative to improve mental health care and addiction services. Others include :

• Improving hospital and community-based mental health services by funding 75 new forensic beds for people in the criminal court system who are mentally ill and require those services
• Establishing an external task force to provide advice to the government on how to improve methadone treatment in Ontario
• Transferring the management and operation of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital to the Whitby Mental Health Centre Corporation to allow more local control over services to ensure that community needs are being met.

Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a 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 McGuinty Government Expands Community-Based Mental Health Services

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