‘We owe an enormous debt to our first responders, who make unimaginable sacrifices on daily basis to maintain households and communities throughout Ontario protected,’ mentioned Ford
NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF PREMIER DOUG FORD
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The Ontario authorities is increasing entry to complete psychological well being and rehabilitation remedy for first responders affected by work-related stress or trauma, together with post-traumatic stress harm (PTSI), by investing within the development of Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s Submit-Traumatic Stress Harm Centre of Excellence for First Responders.
This new funding builds on the $10.7 million the federal government beforehand invested to assist early capital planning for Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s two new amenities.
At the moment’s announcement is a crucial step ahead for Ontario’s police personnel. The brand new PTSI Centre of Excellence will present much-needed psychological well being and rehab assist for individuals who shield our communities. We applaud @ONgov and @MPPKerzner for prioritizing their well-being. pic.twitter.com/BxbB6d0X5I
— Police Affiliation of Ontario (PAO) (@PoliceAssocON) January 24, 2025
“We owe a huge debt to our first responders, who make incredible sacrifices every day to keep families and communities across Ontario safe,” mentioned Premier Doug Ford. “By investing in mental health and rehabilitation treatment for first responders provided by the dedicated team at Runnymede Healthcare Centre, we’re helping give back to our brave women and men so they can access the critical supports they need.”
The province’s funding will assist the development of two new amenities within the Larger Toronto Space to ship complete PTSI rehabilitation-focused packages and providers tailor-made to the wants of first responders and assist them all through their journey to restoration. Providers embody psychological well being assessments, rehabilitation and residential remedy, digital care, 24/7 disaster assist, peer assist and navigation assist.
In Toronto, the brand new facility will deal with offering rehabilitative providers together with evaluation, intensive outpatient remedy, and aftercare, whereas housing recreation packages and amenities that encourage well being and restoration. The brand new facility in Caledon will present 40 residential beds to attach first responders to tailor-made and complete remedy providers.
As a subsequent step, the ministry is working with Runnymede Healthcare Centre to finish planning and design for this venture. A development schedule shall be confirmed as soon as future planning is full and the venture is tendered and awarded.
“Ontario is proud to be home to world-class first responders who put their lives on the line every day to support and care for families across the province,” mentioned Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon, deputy premier and minister of well being. “By investing in Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s PTSI Centre of Excellence project, our government is building on our work through the Roadmap to Wellness to improve access to mental health services, ensuring our first responders can connect to targeted, comprehensive supports where and when they are needed most.”
It’s estimated as much as 23 per cent of first responders and public security personnel undergo from PTSI, a better charge than that of the overall inhabitants. As soon as opened, the Runnymede Healthcare Centre will present care to 1,500 staff annually, accommodating 41,700 visits. Over time, this program has the potential to broaden to serve extra volumes and frontline professions, enhancing entry to protected, tailor-made and efficient helps when and the place they’re wanted.
“Getting our first responders access to comprehensive mental health support they might need at any given time is another way our government is taking concrete action to support those who serve our communities every day,” mentioned Solicitor Common Michael Kerzner. “This first of its kind facility will allow them to receive dedicated treatment for post-traumatic stress injuries and ensure they receive the critical resources they deserve while they work to keep our communities safe.”
By Your Well being: A Plan for Linked and Handy Care, the Ontario authorities is making it simpler and sooner for individuals to connect with care. In 2020, the province launched the Roadmap to Wellness, a plan to construct a contemporary, world-class psychological well being and addictions care system. The federal government continues to introduce and broaden on progressive new packages to make sure entry to linked and handy care to assist the well being and well-being of all Ontarians.
Fast information
First responders and public security personnel are eligible for psychological well being and rehabilitative remedy providers at Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s Submit-Traumatic Stress Harm Centre of Excellence for First Responders and embody cops, firefighters, correctional officers, paramedics and frontline healthcare personnel.
By the brand new Psychological Well being Helps for Public Security Personnel program, the province is investing greater than $32 million to make sure first responders and public security personnel have entry to psychological well being helps.
Over the following 10 years, Ontario’s investments will result in almost $50 billion in well being infrastructure throughout the province, constructing 3,000 new beds along with over 3,500 important care, acute and post-acute beds the federal government has added since 2020.
By Your Well being, Ontario is getting shovels within the floor for over 50 hospital developments throughout the province.
Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in psychological well being and addictions care, create new providers and broaden packages via Roadmap to Wellness.
As a part of Finances 2024, Constructing a Higher Ontario, the federal government is constructing on its work via the Roadmap by investing an extra $396 million over three years to enhance entry and broaden present psychological well being and addictions providers and packages.
Quotes
“First responders face unique and extraordinary challenges in their work, often putting their mental health and well-being at risk to protect and serve our communities. By investing in the Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Centre of Excellence, we are ensuring that those who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe have access to the specialized care and support they need to heal and thrive. This is a vital step in building a continuum of care that recognizes the sacrifices made by our frontline heroes and supports them throughout their recovery journey.” — Michael Tibollo, affiliate minister of psychological well being and addictions
“Our system fails to adequately protect first responders who are structurally exposed to traumatic events throughout their careers. We cannot have safe, healthy, and resilient communities without safe, healthy, and resilient first responders. It is time to serve those that serve their communities every day. The PTSI Centre of Excellence will help navigate all first responders and their families to appropriate and timely access across the end-to-end continuum of care, from prevention, to treatment and return to wellness, throughout a person’s professional career, and beyond.” — Connie Dejak, president and CEO, Runnymede Healthcare Centre
“Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in addressing the unique challenges faced by Ontario’s sworn and civilian police personnel. Expanding access to comprehensive mental health and rehabilitation services, including the creation of Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Centre of Excellence, is an investment in the well-being of the brave men and women who ensure the safety and security of our communities every day. These facilities will provide the tailored care and support our members need and deserve as they navigate the impacts of their demanding and critical work. We applaud the government for prioritizing this essential initiative.” — Mark Baxter, president, Police Affiliation of Ontario
“Thank you, Premier Ford, for your steadfast support of the Runnymede First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Rehabilitation Centre. Firefighters experience mental health challenges at a significantly higher rate than the general population due to their repeated exposure to traumatic events while serving their communities. The government’s significant investment in this mental health initiative for first responders will enable the construction to begin on this one-of-a-kind centre, which will provide critical support to firefighters and other first responders in need.” — Greg Horton, president, Ontario Skilled Hearth Fighters Affiliation
“First responders work in challenging and demanding environments. This will be a great step forward in addressing the needs of those with post-traumatic stress injury. The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs applauds Premier Ford and the Ontario government for this important investment, which supports those who step up to serve Ontarians.” — Deputy Hearth Chief Rob Grimwood, president, Ontario Affiliation of Hearth Chiefs
“Paramedics encounter situations that put them at a high risk for PTSD and other mental health challenges. As such they require access to specialized treatment options in a timely manner. These new mental health and rehabilitative treatment services that are tailored to first responders and frontline healthcare providers will ensure that those who serve the citizens of Ontario receive the care they require to remain healthy so they are able to continue to serve and care for our communities. On behalf of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs, we thank the government of Ontario for their ongoing commitment to supporting the physical and mental health of paramedics.” — Chief Greg Sage, president, Ontario Affiliation of Paramedic Chiefs
“With the prevalence of post-traumatic stress injuries amongst paramedics and allied partners estimated to be at least twice that of the general population, the Ontario Paramedic Association supports efforts to provide access to rehabilitation-focused care and recovery pathways to those who are there for Ontarians during their most vulnerable moments. This boost in funding from the provincial government will assist the Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s PTSI Centre of Excellence in its efforts to provide this much-needed access to specialized care to support, foster and maintain healthier first responder populations, translating into healthier and more resilient communities across Canada.” — Katherine Hambleton, vice-president, operations, Ontario Paramedic Affiliation
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