Manitoba Government News Release–As part of a government-wide response to supporting youth with addictions, the Manitoba government is creating a new virtual crisis consultation service to provide support and clinical advice to those who work with children and youth struggling with their mental health or addictions, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, minister responsible for mental health, announced today.
“This is a hub-and-spoke model that leverages the clinical expertise we have here in Manitoba and connects to those on the front line of children’s crisis work,” said Smith. “It means no matter where you are in the province, if you work with kids who struggle with addictions or are in a mental health crisis, you can talk to a professional who has experience and clinical expertise. It’s part of a broad approach to prevent kids from falling through the cracks and it’s about delivering care right away, instead of making kids wait in emergency departments.”
The Manitoba government is investing $2.4-million into increased psychiatric nurse support at the Health Sciences Centre Children’s Emergency Department in Winnipeg. It will also support a virtual care service operated by Shared Health that will serve as a hub for professionals, like school-based counsellors, physicians, social workers and other community care providers, to access clinical advice and best practices when supporting children in crisis.
“Offering this new virtual service underscores our commitment to improving access to more timely care for children and youth across the province, including in First Nations and other more remote communities,” said Dr. Jaye Miles, director of Health Services, Child and Youth Treatment Services with Shared Health. “Shared Health is excited to be able to stand up this innovative provincial service in collaboration with the regional health authorities and to support the dedicated service providers already offering much needed mental health and addictions support to Manitoba children, teens and their families.”
An additional $1.5-million will be directed to hire more mental health clinicians across the province. Clinicians will work with the hub to support a child in crisis.
The minister noted the new initiative addresses recommendations from the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, and aligns with the departmental mandate of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness to improve access to mental health care by hiring 100 new mental health workers and works to support access to timely mental health care closer to home.
To learn more about the Child and Youth Virtual Consultation and Crisis Response Service, visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/services/mental-health/child-youth-services/child-and-youth-virtual-consultation-and-crisis-response-service/.