Question Period Note: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TOOLS DURING COVID-19

• What is the Government doing to address the increased stress, worry, and anxiety that Canadians are experiencing due to COVID-19?

• The Government of Canada recognizes that COVID-19 continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. That is why the Government has launched a new online portal that provides access to a virtual network of psycho-social supports.
• Wellness Together Canada is the first national program of its kind, providing 24/7 access to free evidence-based tools and resources.
• Through Wellness Together Canada, Canadians across the country can access supports ranging from self-assessment and peer support, to confidential sessions with social workers, psychologists and other professionals.
• Wellness Together Canada supports existing provincial and territorial services, and does not replace them.
• All services are available in both official languages, and phone counseling sessions are supported by instantaneous interpretation in 200 languages and dialects.
• To date, the Government of Canada has invested $67M in Wellness Together Canada.

• Wellness Together Canada adds to the suite of virtual tools, such as the Canada COVID-19 mobile app, ensuring that Canadians have access to information, resources, and other supports during this difficult time.

Pressure on Existing Provincial/Territorial Mental Health Services
With Canadians physical distancing and isolated, there is an unprecedented need for virtual services, such as telehealth and other information lines (e.g., 811), and provinces/territories are not able to absorb the increased demand.

It is critical that Canadians have access to effective tools to self-monitor, promote their mental well-being, obtain credible and reliable information, and access services when deemed necessary. Canadians need to be re-assured that there are supports available to help alleviate their stress, fear and anxiety.

Government Actions and Investments to Address Impact Of Covid-19 On Canadians’ Mental Health
Increasing Mental Health System Capacity
Health Canada has invested $67 million in Wellness Together Canada, a free 24/7 portal for mental health and substance use supports. An amendment had been finalized that will augment supports, expand the portal’s reach and capabilities in needed areas, and extend free access to the portal until April 2021.
The initial funding for the portal was part of the $240.5M investment (described below) to increase access to virtual services and digital tools to support Canadians’ health and well-being during COVID-19:
• $25M for Wellness Together Canada
• $15M to support the growing family of digital products that includes the Canada COVID-19 app
• $200M to expand virtual care services across Canada in partnership with provinces, territories and other federal partners, such as Canada Health Infoway.
Funding to Provincial and Territorial Governments
The Government of Canada is investing $5 billion over ten years to improve Canadians’ access to mental health services. The investment is being provided directly to provinces and territories via negotiated bilateral agreements to help them expand access to community-based mental health and addiction services for children and youth, integrated services for people with complex needs, and spread proven models of community mental health care and culturally appropriate interventions linked to primary health services.
Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental Illness
Through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund, the Government of Canada is investing $39 million from 2019-2028 to address multiple risk and protective factors to promote mental health for children, youth, young adults and populations susceptible to mental health inequities (e.g., low-income families, immigrants and refugees, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, LGBTQ2+, people living with disabilities and people with other socio-economic risk factors).
PHAC is providing $7.5 million to Kids Help Phone to respond to the increased demand for mental health services for children and youth.
$9 million is being provided to the United Way (through New Horizons) for practical services for seniors.
Mobilizing Data and Evidence
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is currently leading a COVID-19 and Mental Health Research Initiative in collaboration with PHAC and Health Canada. This initiative currently supports 101 research projects, representing a total investment of $13.5M from CIHR and partners. This work is guided by an Expert Advisory Panel composed of leading Canadian experts in mental health and substance use. New knowledge generated through these projects will be mobilized to ensure it will inform policy making in a timely manner.
Statistics Canada developed and administers a web panel survey, the “Canadian Perspectives Survey Series”. Each month, approximately 4,600 people in the 10 provinces have been responding to the new iteration of the survey. The Canadian Community Health Survey also resumed in September 2020.
Suicide Prevention
The Government of Canada is providing $21 million over five years to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to implement and sustain a fully operational pan-Canadian suicide prevention service in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association and Crisis Services Canada. This service will provide people across Canada with access to 24/7/365 bilingual crisis support from trained responders, using the technology of their choice (voice, text or chat). The Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention was released November 2016. It focused on raising public awareness, reducing stigma, disseminating information and data, and promoting the use of research and evidence-based practices. Progress Reports on the Framework are available on Canada.ca, with the next report planned for release in December 2020.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pursuant to the Federal Framework on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, Canada’s first Federal Framework on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was tabled in Parliament on January 22, 2020 and made public on February 13, 2020. To inform the development of the framework, in accordance with the Act, the Minister of Health convened a National Conference on PTSD in April 2019 with the Ministers of National Defence, Veterans Affairs, and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, partners and stakeholders, including people with lived-experience.

SYNOPSIS
• The Government remains committed to increasing access to mental health and substance use resources and supports for Canadians whose regular services are not accessible.

IF PRESSED ON THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS THAT HEALTH CANADA UNDERTOOK TO AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR WELLNESS TOGETHER CANADA…
• Health Canada with Public Services and Procurement Canada launched a competitive process to provide funding through a targeted request for proposals (RFP).

• A targeted approach was necessary due to the scope and complexity of services required and the urgency to provide mental health and substance use supports to Canadians during COVID-19.
IF PRESSED FOR INFORMATION ON THE CONSORTIUM OF ORGANIZATIONS MANAGING WELLNESS TOGETHER CANADA
• Wellness Together Canada is the result of the work of a consortium of three organizations:
• Stepped Care Solutions is an interdisciplinary and cross-sector team of clinician-researchers, leaders and pioneers in the areas of Stepped Care 2.0 and e-mental health.
• Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national service offering support to young people via phone, text and live chat, and is a global leader in developing and delivering virtual mental health solutions.

• Homewood Health is a Canadian leader in the development and delivery of national, evidence-based mental health, trauma, and addiction treatment and services.

• Wellness Together Canada receives support from additional partners and stakeholders, such as Bell Let's Talk, Canada Health Infoway, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Canadian Psychological Association, and Medavie.
IF PRESSED ON THE COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION...
• The portal strictly adheres to all privacy and health information legislation and standards to maintain the security and confidentiality of personal information.
IF PRESSED ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES…
• The COVID-19 pandemic is particularly challenging for families who may be especially vulnerable to stress given the uncertainty and disruption to their daily routines.
• Our Government is quickly mobilizing efforts to develop and disseminate reliable and timely public health resources to help families, including parents caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, navigate through these difficult times.
• Our Government also recognizes that the mental health of young people are particularly vulnerable during these difficult times, and their access to needed supports are often limited.
• As a part of the Consortium managing the Wellness Together Canada portal, Kids Help Phone is providing support to young people via phone, text and live chat.
• We are also investing an additional $7.5M in Kids Help Phone to support their ongoing services for youth, as a leader in responding to the needs of young Canadians.
• In addition to these actions, the Government of Canada is investing $5 billion over ten years to provinces and territories via negotiated bilateral agreements to help them expand access, which includes community-based mental health and addiction services for children and youth.
IF PRESSED ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS…
• Health care workers and other front line personnel are an important population for Wellness Together Canada. That is why the portal features a dedicated text line for front line workers that provides immediate access to psycho-social supports.
• In addition, the portal features Program Navigators that can assist front line workers and other Canadians in accessing portal resources appropriate for their needs.
IF PRESSED ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO DIVERSE POPULATIONS…
• Wellness Together Canada provides culturally appropriate services to Canadians through an inclusive portal experience, tailored to meet the needs of varying age groups and diverse populations.
• The portal also supports populations with barriers to care, including those in isolation or remote areas, facing stigma or financial difficulties, and official language minority communities.