Will Bouma
Will Bouma

Ontario Holds Mental Health and Addictions Roundtable in Brantford-Brant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 18, 2019

Ontario Holds Mental Health and Addictions Roundtable in Brantford-Brant

Province Hears Directly from Care Providers, Emergency Responders, Municipal Leaders,and Indigenous Leaders and Representatives

NEWS 

BRANTFORD – Ontario’s government is making mental health and addictions a priority. Each year, 2.5 million Ontarians are expected to experience a mental health or addiction challenge. 

On October 17th, the government heard directly from local care providers, emergency responders, Indigenous representatives, and municipal leaders about the mental health and addictions concerns in Brantford-Brant. Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant, was proud to host a roundtable alongside Hon. Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s first Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, and commended the local community for coming together to propose possible solutions to address the local mental health and addictions challenges in the region.

By working together, we can better support Ontarians facing mental health and addictions challenges,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government has consulted with hundreds of mental health organizations, frontline staff providing services, hospitals, advocates, experts, and people with lived experience to develop a plan to improve mental health services in Ontario. We’re continuing to invest more in these important services and we’ll continue to listen to the people who are impacted the most.” 

“We can all make a difference in our own way and help those in our community who are facing mental health and addictions challenges,” said MPP Bouma. “Most of us know friends, family members or colleagues that face these challenges. Reach out to people who may be struggling, let them know they are not alone, and that supports are available. Working together, we can break the stigma around mental illness, and provide better care for people facing mental health and addictions challenges.”

“It was a pleasure to meet and discuss local mental health and addiction issues with Minister Tibollo,” said Michael Benin, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Brantford-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch.  “Although he has a good understanding of the various issues with the system, I do not envy his role and responsibilities going forward because the job before him is massive, Mr. Benin continued. “One thing however is quite clear, the extensive representation and attendance by the local community health and social service providers at the meeting demonstrates a definite desire to address these issues together. Our collective appetite to collaborate and develop innovative solutions to the numerous challenges before us will significantly help the Minister to work towards achieving his goals for the sectors and will aid in servicing the citizens of our community who are experiencing those health concerns.”

“I am very grateful to our MPP Will Bouma and his staff for organizing a Brant/Brantford/Six Nations Mental Health Roundtable with Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo” said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “I was very impressed that Minister Tibollo placed no time limit on the meeting which lasted almost 3 hours. Representatives from almost every local agency that provides mental health services, or is impacted by mental health issues, were present. The discussion was exhaustive and thorough, dealing with what is and needs to be done to address mental health issues throughout the region.”

The government remains committed to investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to build a mental health and addictions system where high-quality services are easier to find and focus on better outcomes for Ontarians.

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For more information, contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or will.bouma@pc.ola.org