Ontario Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Nipissing
May 3, 2023NIPISSING – As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is connecting more Ontarians to mental health and addictions services. Over $575,000 has been invested into six inter-professional primary care agencies which will increase care in the Nipissing region.
“Providing people with the right care in the right place is a pillar of the Your Health plan, and that includes expanding access to mental health and addiction care to connect people and their families to timely, convenient care closer to home,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “The enhanced mental health services will provide support for people experiencing anxiety, stress, and other mental health challenges. Funding will also help to temporarily expand in-person service delivery for those who need it while providing alternatives for others through enhanced online supports.”
A breakdown of funding includes the following:
| Name of Organization | Allocation |
| Powassan and Area Family Health Team | $84,100 |
| Blue Sky Family Health Team | $84,100 |
| Mattawa Family Health Team | $84,100 |
| North Bay Nurse Practitioner- Led Clinic Inc. | $84,100 |
| North Bay Indigenous Hub – Giiwedno Mshkikiiwgamig | $160,000 |
| Union of Ontario Indians (Anishnabek Nation) | $81,000 |
To make it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support, primary care, social services, and more, Ontario is also expanding the number of Youth Wellness Hubs by adding eight new hubs to the 14 that are already operating across the province.
Youth Wellness Hubs are filling major gaps in care for youth substance use, concurrent disorders, and transition-aged youth by providing walk-in access to primary care and mental health and addictions services for people aged 12 to 25. These core clinical services are co-located within a range of other supports in the fields of education, employment, training, housing, and other community and social services.
QUICK FACTS
- In 2020, Ontario released a strategy to build a world-class mental health and addictions system – Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System. Supported by a commitment to invest $3.8 billion over ten years, Roadmap is adding capacity to meet demand, filling gaps in the care continuum, and creating a provincial infrastructure for a mental health and addictions continuum of care that connects primary, community, and acute care to better wrap around the needs of people with mental health and addictions issues.
- In Budget 2023, Ontario is building on its historic $3.8 billion investment by providing an additional $425 million over three years. This investment will provide community-based mental health and addictions service providers funded by the Ministry of Health with a five per cent increase in base funding.
- Since 2019-20, the government has flowed $525 million in new base funding for mental health and addictions services and supports. This funding is supporting a range of services, including child and youth mental health, community-based addictions services, supportive housing, mental health and justice, and Indigenous mental health and addictions.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Ontario Expanding Mental Health Services for Children and Youth in Every Corner of the Province
- Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care
- 2023 Ontario Budget: Building a Strong Ontario
- Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System
- Mental Health and Addictions Programs and Resources