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October 13, 2006 $7 MILLION INVESTED IN MENTAL-HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS PROGRAMS, ADDITIONAL YOUTH ADDICTION TREATMENTThe province is investing more than $7 million to enhance community addictions and mental-health services for Manitoba youth, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced today.
More than $1.6 million is being provided over two years for community-based counselling services for youth across the province and an additional $5.4 million in funding will be provided over three years for 15 new youth addiction treatment and stabilization beds.
“Alcohol and drug use by youth is a serious problem and it’s important to provide the necessary supports and treatment options for problems related to substance abuse,” said Irvin-Ross. “This new funding will provide for more community addictions workers to be hired across the province, to give mental-health and addictions support services to youth in need.”
The new resources will include:
· five positions for community addiction workers in Winnipeg, Thompson, The Pas, Brandon and Dauphin with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba;
· one psychologist for the North Eastman Regional Health Authority mental-health program;
· one psychologist for the South Eastman Regional Health Authority mental-health program;
· one counsellor for the Laurel Centre in Winnipeg; and
· one full-time and one part-time outreach worker and one full-time co-ordinator for Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) in Winnipeg.
Five new youth addiction treatment beds are located at the Behavioural Health Foundation. Ten stabilization beds will be operated by Marymound, with five youth stabilization beds expected to open this fall and the other five in 2007.
“From outreach and counselling services to treatment beds, we are providing resources for a wide range of services to meet the needs of Manitoba youth,” said Irvin-Ross. “Funding for these additional beds will connect youth with services to help deal with their use of substances and make positive changes in their lives.”
This funding is part of the three-year, $9-million investment to improve access to mental-health and addictions services announced earlier this fall. The investment provides funding for a broad array of services including:
· centralized intake and referral to improve access to supports for youth and parents;
· increased community-based mental-health and addictions services;
· more treatment beds for youth; and
· supports for youth stabilization including training and public awareness.
“We’re investing in a wide range of services across the system to make sure Manitobans have access to mental-health and addictions supports across the province,” said Irvin-Ross. “Focusing on a combination of areas including prevention, intervention, outreach and facility-based care helps us provide needed care so people can live fulfilling, satisfied lives.”
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