ON MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES

MPP Anand’s twentieth Members’ Statement was on the topic of “Mental Health and Addiction Services”, delivered on 16 May 2019.

See full transcript below:

“Today I rise to share a funding announcement. I believe that we all deserve to be happy. We all deserve to live a life that lights us up. Mr. Speaker, too many people struggle silently with their mental health. Mental health is a health.

Mr. Speaker, one in five Canadians experience a mental illness and/or addiction problem.

I’m excited to share the news of the funding announcement by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for mental health and addictions services. As part of the investment, health care service providers in my riding of Mississauga–Malton will receive $3 million in funding. In other words, relief is on the way.

Some 40% of respondents in Canada, in response to a survey, agreed that they have experienced anxiety or depression but never got any help. It is time to end the stigma around mental health and to do something.

The health care service providers receiving the funding are: Associated Youth Services of Peel; PCHS; Peel Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre; Peel Children’s Centre; and Services and Housing In the Province. To these organizations: Thank you for choosing Mississauga–Malton, and thank you for your service. The funding will be going towards reducing wait times, creating additional housing, building capacity and investing in services for the Indigenous community.

To the residents of Mississauga–Malton: It is always a pleasure to be your voice at Queen’s Park. I am committed to working with the ministers to make sure Mississauga–Malton and all of Ontario have the resources available for the mental health and addictions support it needs.”