The Ontario government has committed over $32 million to support the mental health of public safety personnel, as reported by the Ontario Government.
This initiative, titled the Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel (MHS4PSP) program, will provide specialized mental health services to police officers, firefighters, paramedics, correctional workers, and other public safety workers across the province.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner stated: “This new program 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 program is designed to expand on Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness and will include a web portal offering cognitive behavioral therapy and peer-support tools, 24/7 call-line access, and other trauma-informed resources.
A grant will subsidize these programs for employers, ensuring accessibility.
A critical element of the MHS4PSP program is the Anti-Stigma Strategy, which aims to address the social barriers preventing public safety workers from seeking mental health support.
This strategy will provide a leadership support network, training for organizational leaders on mental health, and a website dedicated to resources for public safety personnel.
The approach draws on insights from the “Staying visible, staying connected, for life” report to foster environments where seeking mental health assistance is normalized.
Applications for grant funding to support the program will open in early 2025, marking the phased rollout of these initiatives.
The MHS4PSP program is part of Ontario’s broader commitment to addressing mental health through its Roadmap to Wellness.
The provincial government has invested $3.8 billion over ten years to address gaps in mental health care.
This program also builds on the 2024 Budget’s allocation of $396 million to expand mental health and addiction services.
Additional funding has supported projects like the Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Centre of Excellence for First Responders, with proposed sites in Toronto and Caledon.
Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, emphasized the importance of this investment, saying: “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.”
Following a competitive process, Warrior Health has been chosen to develop and deliver the MHS4PSP program.
This consortium includes organizations such as Wounded Warriors Canada, Homewood Health, and CAMH, representing over 300 years of collective expertise in mental health services.
Scott Maxwell, CEO of Wounded Warriors Canada, highlighted: “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.”
The program is set to be a cornerstone of mental health care for Ontario’s public safety workforce.
The Ontario government has announced the $32 million Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel program to provide tailored mental health services to public safety workers.
This initiative includes cognitive behavioral therapy, peer-support tools, and a 24/7 call-line.
Accompanying this is an Anti-Stigma Strategy to foster open conversations about mental health.
Warrior Health has been selected to deliver these programs, leveraging over 300 years of combined expertise.
The funding is part of a broader $3.8 billion investment in mental health care under Ontario’s Roadmap to Wellness.
