(AGENPARL) – mer 25 gennaio 2023 [Ontario Logo]
NEWS RELEASE
Ontario Expanding Mental Health Services for Children and Youth in Every Corner of the Province
“One Stop Talk” program connects youth to mental health counselling by phone, video, text and chat
January 25, 2023
WHITBY — The Ontario government is investing $4.75 million to expand the “One Stop Talk” virtual “walk-in” counselling program to connect children, youth and their families with more convenient and timely ways to access mental health counselling no matter where they live.
“Our government is making it easier and more convenient for children and youth in every corner of the province to access mental health care,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This program offers modern, convenient options for youth to connect to help in ways that they’re used to communicating.”
The “One Stop Talk” service offers convenient ways to talk to a clinician by phone, video conference, text and chat without an appointment. The program began as a pilot in November 2022 with six participating mental health organizations and is now being expanded to additional organizations and their waitlisted patients. When fully implemented, the program will eventually be available to all children, youth and their families.
These hubs help fill the gap in youth addictions services and also provide children and youth aged 12 to 25 a range of other services, such as vocational support, education services, housing and recreation and wellness.
“Through our Roadmap to Wellness, we are focused on fixing our complicated and disjointed mental health and addictions care system once and for all,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Significantly expanding our network of Youth Wellness Hubs is one more way we’re creating a system where Ontarians of all ages have convenient access to the highest-quality mental health and addictions supports, when and where they need them.”
Quick Facts
– The eight new Youth Wellness Hubs will be in Algoma Region, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington, London-Middlesex, Sagamok Anishnabek First Nation, Sarnia-Lambton, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, and West Toronto.
– One of these new Youth Wellness Hubs will be located at Sagamok Anishnabek First Nation and will offer culturally safe and appropriate primary care, mental health and addictions services to Indigenous youth in and around that community
– Once fully implemented, the One Stop Talk service will provide immediate, low barrier access to brief counselling services through a single virtual access point from anywhere in the province.
Quotes
“We recognize that more than ever before, many students face mental health challenges, which is why we are expanding access to care both in Ontario schools and across our communities. By making it easier for children and youth to access mental health services through a ‘One Stop Talk’ service, our government is investing to increase access to care so that students are healthy and supported while they learn.”
– Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
“Children’s Mental Health Ontario is pleased to see this investment in child and youth mental health. Children, youth, and their families are waiting too long to get the supports they need and the expansion of One Stop Talk, designed and driven by community-based child and youth mental health agencies, will play a role in reducing those wait times and improving access to care.”
– Tatum Wilson
CEO, Children’s Mental Health Ontario
“Millions of Ontarians struggle with their mental health or substance use every year. Investing in improving access to supports is critical – especially for our children and youth. It is also critical that we continue to advance the work of the Roadmap to Wellness. We look forward to continuing to work with the Ontario government to build a comprehensive and connected mental health and addiction system in Ontario.”
– Alisha Tharani
CEO, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario
“The walk in, low-barrier services offered through Youth Wellness Hubs are critical in improving Ontario’s mental health and addiction services for youth and their families. These additional sites will ensure more young people across the province receive the help and support they need.”
– Camille Quenneville
CEO Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division
“We are pleased to be a part of a province-wide, system-level response to meet the mental health crisis. In addition to providing in the moment care, One Stop Talk/Parlons maintenant connects young people to local services when needed. We are excited to scale the program so that young people across the province will benefit, and we thank the Ministry of Health and our Lead Agency Consortium partners for their support in bringing this vision to reality.”
– Janet McCrimmon
President and CEO, Strides Toronto
Additional Resources
Media Contacts
Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Anna Miller
Communications Division