$31M for the mental health of Quebecers
$31M for the mental health of Quebecers
Quebec will invest $ 31 million to increase mental health support services by announcing the arrival of a COVID-19 action plan.
Danielle McCann, Minister of Health and Social Services, explained how the funds will be used.
McCann also said that about 15 percent of people who contacted health services suffered from mental distress in the province. Statistics also show that the top of the psychological distress curve usually occurs several weeks after the top of the epidemic curve.
The $ 31 million announced this Wednesday will aim to increase access to psycho-social and mental health services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the measures include :
– The enhancement of Info-Social 811 services;
– Improving access to appropriate and timely psycho-social and mental health services for
anyone who requests it;
– The intensification of social and psychological counseling services as well as the deployment
of priority mental health services, including the enhancement of local services.
The Deputy Premier of Quebec and Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, recognized that containment weighs heavily on citizens. She insisted on reiterating, as de-confinement gradually began, that the instructions to distance oneself and the ban of gatherings remained important in order to keep control over the spread of the virus.
“With the pandemic, we are very concerned about our physical health, but it must not be at the expense of our mental health,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. I want to take this opportunity to tell people who live with mental health problems not to hesitate to consult. You don’t have to choose between virus and distress. We have to tackle both at the same time, “she added during the daily press briefing.
