Ontario's health minister stops at Burlington’s ROCK

Mental health services for children and youth in Ontario received a financial boost from the provincial government with the announcement of $44.6 million per year in additional funding. 

Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and health minister, was at the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) in Burlington this afternoon to make the announcement.

“Our government knows mental health challenges can impact individuals of all ages, and we recognize the tremendous work of numerous organizations and community members from across the province who are helping address these challenges by listening and reaching out to young people to connect them with the mental health services they need,” Jones said.

The funding will help expand and establish programs and services across Ontario, including community-based intensive services, One Stop Talk and clinical training spots at Children’s Mental Health Ontario.

“I have had the privilege of being involved in a number of significant and impactful system changes,” said ROCK CEO Kirsten Dougherty, who is also chair of One Stop Talk, a free virtual mental health service for children and youth. “Programs like One Stop Talk that have and will continue to have impacts because of this government’s willingness and commitment to partner with the sector to identify and implement solutions.”