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By Nathan Jordan

Mental Health

Northern BC awaiting confirmation on how new Provincial Mental Health funding will be spent

Mar 2, 2023 | 5:27 PM

PRINCE GEORGE- The NDP Government’s announcement of almost 6 and a half billion dollars in new funding for improvements to healthcare across the board includes 1 billion specifically for investments in Mental Health and Harm Reduction Services, but there’s a catch, it’s still too early to say where exactly that billion dollars will go, what it could build, or who’s salary it might pay.

In the eyes of local Mental Health professionals, any investment in healthcare is a good one, but those investments should be made in a way that strengthens the ability of the system to provide comprehensive, wrap-around care. The idea being that any dollar spent on prevention of a crisis, will end up saving money when it comes to cost intensive acute crisis care, simultaneously easing the burden on the heath care system, and on the individuals seeking care.

How much, if any, of the billion dollar’s up for grabs will end up trickling down to Prince George and the rest of the North is yet to be determined, but one thing is clear: There’s a sense of resounding optimism rippling through the offices of BC’s Northern Mental Health professionals, as the spending announcement from Victoria signals a new willingness of the Provincial government to respond to the on-going healthcare crisis with the sense of urgency they’ve long been calling for.