GTA mental health treatment centers for first responders one step closer to reality with new funding | CBC News

The federal government will contribute $15 million to build two new treatment facilities in the Greater Toronto Area for first responders with post-traumatic stress injuries.

The funding will help expand access to specialized care for police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, paramedics and health care workers, according to Eleanor Olszewski, minister of emergency management and community resilience.

“It’s about changing how we respond to injuries that are invisible. Often people with these injuries face barriers when they need support themselves,” Olszewski said.

“These are the people who stand up for us in our moments of crisis. They take care of Canadians when they’re hurt, when they’re tired, when they’re scared. They have a huge responsibility and they do it every day under incredible pressure,” she added.

Olszewski noted that first responders and frontline health care workers are especially vulnerable to trauma, which can lead to post-traumatic stress injuries, depression, anxiety, addictions and other mental health challenges.

She said the money is also expected to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and substance use among first responders.

The two new treatment facilities will be located in Toronto and Caledon. Station No. 3434 in Toronto will be an outpatient clinic, while the Caledon Rehabilitation Center will be a residential facility. Both will be operated by Runnymede Health Care Centre, a rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital west of Toronto.

Construction is expected to begin next year.

Occupational stress injuries are real, says hospital CEO

Connie Dijk, president and CEO of Runnymede Health Care Center, said the two sites will create an integrated treatment system with “multiple pathways” to treatment.

“First responders walk into moments that most of us spend our lives trying to avoid. They walk into crisis, uncertainty, and human tragedy and suffering, often without pausing and often without processing what they carry with them,” Dijk said.

“Occupational stress injuries are real. They are pervasive, often invisible, and, if left unaddressed, can have a profound impact on individuals and their families and the communities they serve.”

Runnymede Health Care Center estimates that more than 36,000 first responders in Ontario are affected by post-traumatic stress injuries, a number expected to increase to 46,000 by 2040.

An Ontario minister says the funds will make a difference

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said federal money will make a difference. By 2025, the Ontario government has committed more than $10 million to the project.

“With today’s investment from the federal government, we are one step closer to getting shovels in the ground for this new facility,” Jones said.

Station No. 3434, a six-story center, “rehab’s front door,” will serve as the main site for outpatient services, including evaluations, therapy sessions, and aftercare for post-traumatic conditions, anxiety and substance use disorders, Dijk said.

The facility will also have recreational programs and facilities to support people recovering from their injuries.

Caledon’s rehabilitation center, “a place where people can step away from seeking services,” will have 40 inpatient beds and an average length of stay of 30 days, Dijk said.

It will offer detoxification services, intensive psychotherapy and psychosocial therapy. Patients will have personalized care plans during their stay, follow-up care and support to promote recovery.