Whereas mentally vulnerable children, youth and adults in BC rural communities are left to face many life-threatening obstacles during a mental health crisis as they wait to obtain services in larger communities due to its absence in their localities; And whereas very few rural communities were declared eligible for Community Action Team through the recently disbursed 3.5 million provincially received by the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction: Therefore it be resolved that UBCM request the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction to provide funding for additional beds and facility expansion in major mental health and addiction service centres throughout rural BC.
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions The Province recognizes the ongoing need to enhance mental health and substance use supports for British Columbians, particularly those in rural and remote areas. We are committed to providing access to a continuum of quality options with residential, or bed-based services, being one part of a comprehensive continuum of care. Community Action Teams CATs have been established to lead and coordinate on-the ground planning and strategies as part of the escalated response to the overdose emergency, in order to save lives and connect people to treatment and recovery services as soon as possible. Of the 35 existing teams, several are in rural communities or small population centres with limited service access, including: Dawson Creek, Grand Forks, Hope, NelsonCastlegar, Powell River, Terrace and Williams Lake. The choice of communities where CATs are established is driven by local area need, as evidenced via epidemiological overdose data. Additionally, substantial investments have been made to enhance treatment and recovery across the province, with significant attention paid towards geographic equity where possible. Being able to first access lower intensity out-patient services in community can help prevent people from needing residential bed-based care. To that end, some key investments to increase access to mental health and addictions services across the lifespan include: - Budget 2019 provided 74 million to improve child and youth mental health, including enhancing quality mental health and substance use supports in schools, at home, through primary care, and in communities throughout the province. This also included eight new Foundry locations announced on June 15, 2020, including Williams Lake and Burns Lake, for a total of 19 centres province wide once complete. - In light of COVID-19, 5 million to expand mental health supports across BC, including virtual supports to better support people in rural communities, and 2.5 million to support existing bed-based services negatively impacted by the pandemic. Recognizing there is need to increase access to bed-based care, the province has additionally committed to opening almost 200 new beds for youth, young adults, and adults. Specifically, this includes: - 36 million to open 123 youth beds which will more than double the number of youth treatment beds throughout the province. Ongoing work is being conducted with Ministry of Health and health authorities to determine where these beds will be located. - 13.5 million to add 50 to 70 new adult treatment and recovery beds across the province, with a focus on rural communities and small population centres. A competitive granting process for these beds closed on October 7, 2020, and CMHA, who is administering the funding, is now overseeing the adjudication process. - 20.0 million to build, repair, renovate and expand First Nations-operated treatment centres and ensure First Nations can access effective, culturally safe mental health and substance use services and supports. We recognize that residents, particularly those in rural areas, continue to report higher barriers in accessing care in their community. We are working with stakeholders to determine the most appropriate service mix for each region in BC and will continue to look at further options for investment across the continuum of care.