June 23, 2021 – Brampton
This pandemic has exacerbated a range of mental health issues in Brampton South. In Canada at large, almost half of Canadians have reported that their mental health has worsened since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just like physical health, maintaining good mental health is essential to longevity and wellbeing. That is why we are committed to ensuring that Bramptonians have the resources they need to uphold and better their mental health.
Distress centres are a vital part of our community, providing mental health support and resources to those in need. In Peel Region, these centres are seeing a surge in demand for mental health services.
In response, MP Sonia Sidhu, Brampton South is happy to announce that the Federal Government is taking action with an investment of $250 000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin.
CMHA Peel Dufferin is a leading client-driven and community-based mental health organization equipped to handle the specific needs of Peel residents. The branch provides a wide range of services including crisis support, counselling, addiction medicine, education, and street-based outreach.
In 2020, CMHA Peel Dufferin’s 24.7 Crisis Support line received 56,739 calls for help. The volume of calls has increased dramatically during the pandemic.
This investment is part of a nation wide $50 million investment first announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement to support distress centres across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. A second solicitation will be launched in the months ahead to provide funding to additional centres.
As vaccination rates increase, this government will continue to support Bramptonians’ return to normalcy and prioritize all aspects of their health.
QUOTES:
David Smith, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin
“This investment will go a long way in helping us continue to support mental health for all. Our region has been one of the hardest-hit areas during COVID-19. We are very grateful for this additional support that will assist our crisis services which have seen a large increase in calls since the pandemic began.”