Ontario government invests in mobile mental health strategy
The Ontario government is improving access to mental health and addictions care for unserved and underserved areas in Kawartha Lakes and surrounding areas by investing in a new mobile mental health and addictions clinic. As committed to through Ontario’s 2021 budget, the government is creating four new mobile mental health clinics to provide a full suite of mental health and addictions services directly to individuals living in remote, rural and underserved communities across Ontario, according to a media release.
The mobile mental health and addictions clinic will provide individuals a variety of services together under one roof. As the clinic operates within a custom-built retrofitted bus, it reduces the need for people to travel to find services and can meet more clients in more places. This is a critical investment, especially for those living in rural and remote communities that have identified gaps in mental health and addictions services.
“Through our government’s Roadmap to Wellness we are committed to breaking down barriers to accessing high-quality mental health and addictions services where and when it’s needed,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This innovative partnership will help to bring needed mental health and addictions services directly to individuals living in Peterborough and the surrounding areas.”
The clinic will include a multidisciplinary team of mental health and addictions service providers, as well as appropriately trained social workers and/or nurse practitioners who can deliver a wide range of services, including intake and brief services, referrals to existing services, and psychiatric support and follow-up.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA-HKPR), which provides programming and services to the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes, will be the organization responsible for overseeing the development and operation of the mobile mental health clinic in the Peterborough area, including for Kawartha Lakes.
“Since the release of Roadmap to Wellness last year, our government’s top priority has been to continue making critical investments that will fill urgent gaps in mental health and addictions care, reduce waiting lists and address extensive wait times,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Through the development of the mobile mental health clinic, clients and families in Peterborough and the surrounding region will have greater access to high-quality, evidence-based care, in a setting where they are fully supported on their journey towards recovery.”
