SMITHERS – New Democrat MLA Doug Donaldson is welcoming funding to provide greater access to low and no-cost mental health and substance use supports in the Northwest.

Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society in Smithers is receiving a grant to hire a registered social worker to provide counselling for individuals and families, and to develop capacity at their Friendship Centre location in Houston. Grants are being awarded to twenty-nine community organizations across B.C. through the Community Counselling grants program administered by Community Action Initiative.

“Improving access to low-barrier counselling in our communities is vitally important,” said MLA Donaldson. “The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre does incredible work providing community-based support to those who need it, and I’m proud that we can back them in that work.”

MLA Donaldson said that this funding will support a broad range of mental health and substance use services province-wide, including easy-to-access counselling with a focus on marginalized individuals and those who have faced barriers accessing the supports they need. He added that a third of all recipients will be servicing Indigenous communities.

MLA Donaldson said that the BC New Democrat government is committed to providing faster access to mental health services, when and where people need it, and that this funding is part of A Pathway to Hope: A roadmap for improving mental health and addictions care for everyone in B.C.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019MMHA0108-002092