Mental Health And Addictions

MINISTER'S ADVISORY GROUP

David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, has established an Advisory Group on Mental Health and Addictions to provide advice on overall direction and priorities for a 10-year provincial strategy. The Group is responsible for the creation of the discussion paper, Every Door is the Right Door. This discussion paper will help guide the Advisory Group's fall consultations, leading to a report in winter 2009/10

The Minister's Advisory Group is made up of mental health and addictions consumers and family members, health care providers and researchers. It reflects a range of perspectives, from Aboriginal Peoples, to seniors, women and adults and in the workplace.

The Advisory Group began their work in March, consulting with over a hundred Ontarians representing various organizations, providers and consumers.  The Group has also held work shops and commissioned background research on issues related to mental health and addictions.

Feedback on the discussion paper will be sought in a number of ways:

• On the ministry website at www.health.gov.on.ca/mha-feedback; 
• At roundtables consultations to discuss opportunities for children, youth, Aboriginal Peoples, seniors, employers and justice;
• Meetings with the Interministerial Committee on mental health and addictions on ways to improve the overall system and lever change, and;
• Further consultation with consumers, front line providers and provincial organizations.

LINKAGES WITH THE SELECT COMMITTEE

The Minister's Advisory Group will complement the work of the all-party Select Committee of the Legislature on mental health and addictions.  Both initiatives will raise the profile of mental health and addiction issues and identify opportunities to leverage existing resources to address the needs of people living with mental illness. The all-party committee will continue to work with consumers, health care providers, experts and other interested parties to determine the mental health and addictions needs that currently exist.  The committee is expected to issue a report in early 2010 that will:

• Determine the mental health and addictions needs of children and young adults, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as well as seniors;
• Explore innovative approaches to delivering services in the community;
• Identify ways to leverage existing opportunities and initiatives within the current mental health and addictions system.

 MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS FUNDING

Community services for people with serious mental illness enable them to live their lives fully and reduce inappropriate hospitalization and lengths of stay in hospital.  In 2009/10, the province is providing $696.7 million for the provision of community mental health care in Ontario, an increase of $70% since 2003.

Ontario recognizes that to recover from addictions, people must have easy access to the appropriate type and level of services.  The ministry currently allocates about $163.2 million for 150 substance abuse treatment programs and provincial initiatives.  The treatment programs include withdrawal management, community counseling and residential treatment and support services. 

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