Whereas the opioid crisis and mental health challenges affect at least 1 in 5 BC residents and has been compounded by the COVID-19; And whereas evidence shows that access to upstream services such as counselling related specialties and physicaloccupational therapy decreases opioid use andor provides better health intervention outcomes, but these are not accessible to many residents as they are not covered and are much too expensive through fee for services; And whereas communities are currently struggling to meet the needs of our residents, between funding of community programs and increased mental health calls for first responders, which already comprise between 20-30 of local government expenditures and are not often the most appropriate service to support people in crisis: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province expand access to and funding for allied health professionals, particularly mental health counselling specialties and physicaloccupational therapy related specialties, through expansion of team-based care through not-for-profit delivery including community health centres, available to all BC residents regardless of their immigration status and income, throughout the province; And be it further resolved that the Province increase support and funding for Peer Navigators as part of the BC Mental Health and Addictions Strategy.
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Government recognizes the immense tragedy of the toxic illicit drug supply that affects so many people around the province. Working across government, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions continues to respond with diverse and innovative approaches, recognizing that no one solution will end the crisis. Budget 2022 provides 144.5 million over the fiscal plan to provide a full spectrum of substance-use treatment and recovery services, including new and enhanced withdrawal management services, transition and assessment services, treatment and recovery services and aftercare throughout the province. This includes 195 new substance use beds, to help more people get on a path to recovery. This investment enhances and expands the adult treatment and recovery substance use system of care through investments in withdrawal management, transition and assessment, treatment and recovery and aftercare services. It includes investments focused on employing and building capacity among people with lived and living experience PWLLE, such as adding more peer support workers at St. Pauls Hospital and in Richmond to ensure people are more easily connected to services and experience more coordinated and seamless transitions as well as a new peer-led, trauma-informed education program for people with lived and living experience of addiction in the Vancouver Coastal Health Region. Details of additional investment, including new peer-support initiatives, will continue to be announced across the province, as they come on-line over the next three years. In the 202122 fiscal year, a total of 1.583M was provided from the Ministrys Community Crisis Innovation Fund to support a network of organizations led by people with lived and living experience of substance use. This Provincial Peer Network strengthens collaboration and information sharing between peer-led organizations through regional and provincial capacity building, and helps ensure that the provincial response to the drug toxicity emergency is effective in saving lives and connecting people to services that meet their identified needs. These services build on previous work to support system navigation such as the investment in 16 7 new and 9 expanded Substance Use Integrated Teams funded through Budget 2019 which proactively connect people who are suffering with substance use to services, and the new investment in Assertive Community Treatment ACT teams announced last year, which provide in-reach services to support transitions between servicessettings for individuals with moderate to complex mental health issues. In addition to urgent measures to keep people alive, ministry staff and partner organizations are actively working on upstream interventions to prevent addiction and support individuals who may face barriers to accessing traditional care. For youth ages 12-24 and their families, Foundry centres provide access to primary care, mental health and substance use services, peer support, groups, and social services all under one roof. Foundry Virtual is available province-wide for young people and families unable to access Foundry centres due to physical distancing, location, stigma, andor preference. Since 2019, Government has provided almost 15 million in grants to 49 counselling agencies through the Community Action Initiative. The grants are designed to increase access to underserved or hard to reach populations who do not typically have access to other counselling opportunities. To date, approximately 150,000 individual, couples and family counselling sessions have been delivered at low- or no-cost.