Matthews fires back at Fedeli & Elliott

On Wednesday Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli and PC Health Critic Christine Elliott discussed PC proposals on Mental Health with local health stakeholders, In response to the Paths to Prosperity white paper Health Minister Deb Matthews sent Baytoday the following note:

Since 2003, our government has increased funding by 95 percent for community mental health, and 58 percent for addiction programs.

On June 22, 2011, our government announced Open Minds, Healthy Minds, a Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy which in the first three years, focuses on children and youth.

We’re in the second year of a historic $257 million, three-year investment that will help over 50,000 children and their families receive the support and treatment they need.

It’s important to note that we have been creating more capacity in Ontario already for residential treatment. Because more services are now available in Ontario, we have reduced the out of country cost for children and youth to $2.9 million in 2011/12

Commitment in Open Minds, Healthy Minds:

•300 more children and youth with eating disorders will benefit from the expansion of eating disorders programs;

•Expanding services for eating disorders to meet the needs of children and youth who require specialized expertise;

•$6.8 million increase in funding to eating disorders in 2011/12, $13.7 million total.

Any approach to mental health must be comprehensive; we must recognize the varying factors, treatments and programs that effectively address issues of mental health and addictions. That’s why our Strategy is focused on wellness, prevention, inclusive communities and timely, effective, person-directed care.

“We’re making historic investments in children’s mental health that will help over 50,000 children and their families get the care that they need. The select committee on mental health did a lot of important work and our Mental Health and Addictions strategy builds on that work and advice. We’re in the midst of implementation and there’s nothing that Tim Hudak and Christine Elliott said today that we’re not already making pretty important progress on. In fact, he’s a few years behind us.” – Minister Deb Matthews