NEWS RELEASE
CHARLIE ANGUS, NDP CANDIDATE FOR TIMMINS - JAMES BAY
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NDP to create Mental Health Innovation Fund for Children and Youth
KIRKLAND LAKE— New Democrats have focused on mental health services for Canadians to reverse the damage done by years of Liberal and Conservative neglect. Charlie Angus says he has seen first hand how mental health issues deeply impact our communities.
“Every child in Canada should have access to high quality, effective mental health treatment when they need it and that’s not been the case under Stephen Harper’s lost decade. We have seen the devastation locally and we have the evidence showing that addressing mental health in children reduces the incidence of serious mental health issues in adulthood, which reduces costs and strain on provincial healthcare systems.”
Nearly 1.5 million Canadians under the age of 24 who are affected by mental illness do not receive access to appropriate support, treatment or care.
To support provinces and territories in the delivery of quality mental health services to young Canadians and their families, an NDP government will establish a $100 million Mental Health Innovation Fund for Children and Youth aimed at wait-time reduction and improved care.
The Mental Health Innovation Fund includes:
- A special emphasis on high-risk populations in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, as well as Canadians in rural and remote communities, and youth transitioning from foster care.
- $10 million per year for research and enhanced healthcare collaboration across the country;
- $15 million per year for healthcare providers and community mental health associations to implement best practices for wait-time reductions for better care.
“Our improvements to mental health services will also be supported through our investments to help build 200 health clinics across Canada as part of our comprehensive plan for healthcare.”
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