TORONTO – Ontario is earmarking $140 million over three years for mental health and addictions services, including investments in psychotherapy and supportive housing.
The Liberal government says that’s in addition to $3.7 billion that the province put toward those services in 2015-16.
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Health Minister Eric Hoskins used the announcement to further pressure the federal government to boost Canada Health Transfer payments, saying that Ottawa’s current offer would mean Ontario would receive $38 million for mental health – about one per cent of the province’s expenditure.
The new funding is going toward a provincial structured psychotherapy program, up to nine mental health hubs for youth, and up to 1,150 more supportive housing units.
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That housing gives people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and living with mental illness or addictions a place to live as well as access to counselling.
The youth hubs would be available to people between the ages of 12 and 25 on a walk-in basis and provide “one-stop access” to mental health and addictions services, as well as other social supports.
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