Quebec invests $1.2-billion in 5-year mental health action plan

Today Quebec Premier François Legault shared a statement about a new $1.2-billion action plan to boost mental health services in the province, announced this morning by Health and Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant.

“The pandemic is difficult for the mental health of Quebecers. Lionel Carmant today tabled an action plan with a budget totaling $1.2 billion over 5 years. Quebecers must have access to better services. Mental health is as important as physical health.”

—François Legault

La pandémie est difficile pour la santé mentale des Québécois. @CarmantLionel a déposé aujourd’hui un plan d’action dont le budget totalise 1,2 G$ sur 5 ans. Les Québécois doivent avoir accès à de meilleurs services. La santé mentale, c’est aussi important que la santé physique. pic.twitter.com/sCyVVltims

— François Legault (@francoislegault) January 25, 2022

In today’s presentation (which can be viewed in full here), Carmant said that the interdisciplinary, inter-ministerial plan — which will cost over $1.2-billion, of which $361-million is new funding — aims to reduce waiting lists for mental health services, in the public and private sectors, which has risen to somewhere between 19,000 and 20,000 in recent months. The number of Quebecers seeking mental health care has increased 30% to 40% since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Carmant.

The plan aims to add 1,000 full-time positions to the mental health services network, and increase spending on partnerships with community organizations by $100-million.

Please note that free 24/7 mental health support is available through Wellness Together Canada.

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