Ontario is investing more than $32 million to provide mental health supports for first responders and public safety personnel, the provincial government announced Tuesday.
The new Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel (MHS4PSP) programme will offer specialized services to police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, paramedics and others within Ontario’s public safety system.
“First responders and public safety personnel have our backs every day and we will always have theirs,” Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said. “This new programme will ensure Ontario’s selfless heroes, who put their lives on the line daily for us, receive targeted mental health supports that match the unimaginable challenges they face.”
The MHS4PSP programme includes a web portal for access to core services such as internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy and peer-support tools. It also provides additional services like a 24/7 call line and other trauma-informed mental health resources. Employers will have access to a grant to help subsidize the costs of these additional programmes and services.
“Ontario is proud to be home to world-class frontline workers who go above and beyond every day to provide care and support to people and their families across the province,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said. “This investment builds on our work through the Roadmap to Wellness to enhance access to mental health services and ensure that our first responders can connect to targeted and compassionate supports, where and when they need it most.”
An Anti-Stigma Strategy is also part of the initiative, aiming to remove barriers around seeking help. Based on findings from the “Staying visible, staying connected, for life” report, the strategy intends to foster work environments where personnel feel confident seeking mental health support. It will feature a website with resources specific to public safety personnel, a leadership support network, training for leaders on supporting mental health in their organizations, and recommended practices for organizations.
“First responders face not only physical, but also moral and mental injury on a daily basis to keep us safe,” Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo said. “With this new investment, we are making sure that they get the crucial mental health care supports they need and deserve.”
Warrior Health has been selected to design and deliver services for the MHS4PSP programme. The consortium includes Wounded Warriors Canada, Homewood Health, Trillium Health Partners, Boots on the Ground and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
“Collectively, Warrior Health represents over 300 years of experience and expertise and is at the forefront of research and delivery of mental health services,” Scott Maxwell, chief executive officer of Wounded Warriors Canada, said. “The service delivery model will support the province in establishing a mental health platform that is trauma-informed, culturally specific, confidential and responsive to the unique needs of public safety organizations, public safety personnel and their families across Ontario.”
Leaders from various public safety associations expressed support for the initiative. Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, highlighted the challenges faced by officers.
“It has been a difficult few years in policing, with an unprecedented number of officers dying while serving their communities, both in the line of duty and because of the line of duty,” Baxter said. “It is so important for our members and their loved ones to have access to specialized mental health support when and where they need it.”
Greg Horton, president of the Ontario Association of Professional Firefighters, noted the higher rates of mental health struggles among firefighters compared to the general public.
“On behalf of Ontario’s professional firefighters, I thank the Ontario government for establishing the Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel Programme,” Horton said. “This initiative has enabled the OPFFA to offer essential Train-the-Trainer courses, which equip firefighters with the necessary tools to support their peers and continue serving Ontarians with commitment and resilience.”
The programme initiatives and the Anti-Stigma Strategy will roll out in phases, with a call for funding applications expected in early 2025.
This funding is part of the $45.2 million announced in the 2022 budget for programmes focusing on early intervention, access to specialized mental health services and creating an online provincewide inventory of available services for public safety personnel. Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to address gaps in mental health and addictions care through its Roadmap to Wellness strategy.
As part of Budget 2024, titled “Building a Better Ontario,” the government is investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access to mental health and addictions services.
