Ontario Making it Easier for Youth to Connect to Mental Health Services in London-Middlesex

Press Release

October 27, 2023

New Youth Wellness Hub to Provide Evidence-Based Care in a Safe Environment Closer to Home

LONDON — The Ontario government is making it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support by launching a new Youth Wellness Hub to serve London-Middlesex and surrounding areas. This is one of the eight new hubs the government is adding to the 14 already created since 2020, bringing the total to 22 across the province.

“Expanding our network of Youth Wellness Hubs is another step our government is taking to ensure Ontarians of all ages have convenient access to the highest-quality mental health and addictions supports, when and where they need them,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “We will continue to invest in mental health and addictions care as part of the ongoing rollout of the Roadmap to Wellness, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to fix the long-standing issues facing the sector once and for all.”

This new hub, co-designed with local youth, family and stakeholders will help fill the gap in youth addictions services in the region and provide children and youth aged 12 to 25 a safe, welcoming space to access the mental health and addictions services they need at the right time and right place.

Children and youth can expect to receive the following services and supports through their new Youth Wellness Hub:

Integration of mental health, substance use, primary care, vocational, housing and other support services into a one-stop-shop model of care offered in a youth-friendly space;
Co-creation of services with youth and their families;
Quicker access to substance use services and tailored mental health and addictions treatment; and
Transitional support for specialized care when the severity of need is evident.

“Our government is continuing to take action to improve mental health services for communities across Ontario, and support patients and families living with mental health and addictions challenges,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As we continue to expand the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province, young people in the London-Middlesex region will receive faster and easier access to the mental health care they need, in one convenient location, closer to home.”

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is significantly expanding the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province to make it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support, primary care, social services, and more.

Quick Facts

The eight new Youth Wellness Hubs are in Algoma Region, Kingston, London-Middlesex, Sagamok Anishnabek First Nation, Sarnia-Lambton, Sudbury, Toronto Thorncliffe Park and West Toronto.
In 2023, the government also announced additional funding to expand pediatric services in communities across the province, which will support five additional Youth Wellness Hubs to help fill the gap in youth addictions services.
In 2020, Ontario released a strategy to build a world-class mental health and addictions system – Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System. Supported by a commitment to invest $3.8 billion over 10 years, Roadmap is adding capacity to meet demand, filling gaps in the care continuum, and creating a provincial infrastructure for a mental health and addictions continuum of care that connects primary, community, and acute care to better wrap around the needs of people with mental health and addictions issues.
In Budget 2023, Ontario is building on its historic $3.8 billion investment by providing an additional $425 million over three years. This investment will provide community-based mental health and addictions service providers funded by the Ministry of Health with a five per cent increase in base funding.
Since 2019-20, the government has flowed $525 million in new base funding for mental health and addictions services and supports. This funding is supporting a range of services, including child and youth mental health, community-based addictions services, supportive housing, mental health and justice, and Indigenous mental health and addictions.

Quotes

“The Youth Wellness Hub is a great addition to London’s resources for mental health and addiction care. The youth in our community desperately need a place to go for help that is geared to their unique circumstances. Receiving the help they need in a timely manner can be a key factor in successful outcomes and brighter futures.”
– Rob Flack
MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London

Additional Resources

Media Contacts

Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Hannah.R.Jensen@ontario.ca

Anna Miller
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197

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