A strong emergency management system depends on the people who show up in moments of crisis. First responders and frontline workers carry enormous responsibility in service of Canadians, and they deserve access to care that supports their mental health and well-being.
Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced a funding agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario for $15 million to support the expansion of Runnymede Healthcare Centre and the establishment of Ontario's first Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Centre of Excellence. PTSI can include a range of mental health conditions experienced after exposure to trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, depression, and anxiety.
Runnymede Healthcare Centre's long-standing expertise in supporting public safety personnel and frontline health workers makes it well positioned to lead this initiative. In partnership with the Province of Ontario, this funding will support the construction of two new facilities in the Greater Toronto Area.
The new Centre of Excellence will provide a continuum of care, including crisis and support services, connections to resources throughout recovery, and outpatient, residential, and virtual treatment options. These services will help improve access to timely and specialized support for frontline workers across Ontario.
