SURREY – New Democrat MLA Harry Bains is welcoming $240,000 to provide greater access to low and no-cost mental health and substance use supports in Surrey-Newton.

“Eliminating barriers to mental health and substance support benefits our entire community in Surrey-Newton,” said MLA Bains. “By having greater access to these services, more people will be able to get the treatment they need on their road to recovery.”

In Surrey-Newton, the DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society and the Moving Forward Family Services Society will each receive $120,000 in funding. These grants are being awarded to twenty-nine community organizations across B.C. through the Community Counselling grants program administered by Community Action Initiative.

MLA Bains said that this funding will support a broad range of mental health and substance use services, 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 Bains 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