Good News for Psychotherapy in Ontario
This month, the office of Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced that Ontario will support initiatives to improve access to psychotherapy in the province. This means $140 million over three years and additional $50 million yearly on top of $3.7 billion yearly funding for mental health services including addiction care:
- More access to therapy for anxiety and depression and to help people learn strategies to improve mental health via structured psychotherapy programs providing therapy online or in-person through individual or group sessions.
- Nine service hubs where young people aged 12 to 25 can receive walk-in, one-stop access to mental health services including addiction care. The “hubs” are integrated and will also offer health, social and employment supports.
- Accessible counselling offered on-site at 1,150 additional supportive housing units across Ontario for people living with mental illness and addictions, especially those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The government’s vision for person-centred integrative mental health care is outlined in the “Open Minds, Healthy Minds: Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy”
These announcements signal a respect for psychotherapy and acknowledgment that psychotherapy is an essential evidence-based treatment for mental illness including addiction.
Vicky Nguyen
Vicky is a psychiatrist and recent graduate from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM). She completed her PhD and MD training at the University of Toronto. Her research interests are directed at promoting innovative practices and policies to address sub-optimal wait times, access, equity, and quality of health care services for disadvantaged populations in Ontario. She is certified to provide IPT and CBT. She is trained to provide other types of therapy including DBT, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
Other contributions
- Building Your Therapy Practice
- Psychotherapy for Trauma or Stress
- Psychotherapy for Bereavement
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression
- Psychotherapy for Early-Onset Psychosis
- What is Depression?
- Psychotherapy Matters Virtual Clinic (PMVC): A Clinical Social Worker’s Perspective
- Psychotherapy Matters Virtual Clinic (PMVC): A client’s perspective
- Psychotherapy Leaders: Dr. Molyn Leszcz on Group Therapy, Part 2 of 2
- Psychotherapy Leaders: Dr. Molyn Leszcz on Group Therapy, Part 1 of 2