SURREY – New Democrat MLA Harry Bains says that people in Surrey will continue to benefit from low and no-cost counselling services with the extension of funding for two local community agencies.

“Considering the challenges of the pandemic over the last two years, access to counselling has become even more crucial to the mental health of folks across Surrey” said Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton. “That is why I would like to thank our local agencies for the incredible work they have done to keep us healthy during these trying times”.

Moving Forward Family Services Society and DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society are among 49 local community agencies in B.C. that are receiving extended funding to continue their community counselling service. The New Democrat government is investing $4.2 million to support this ongoing service for people across the province.

This funding builds on investments that New Democrats have been making since 2019 to reduce barriers to mental-health supports for people throughout the province. During the pandemic, additional funding was provided to more community counselling organizations to help them offer these vital services virtually. Since 2019, over 100,000 counselling sessions have been provided to people as a result.

Expansion of affordable community counselling services is one way our government is improving access and quality of care, and it is a key pillar outlined in A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for creating a seamless, comprehensive system of mental-health and addictions care that works for everyone.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/26153

For a complete list of all funded community counselling agencies, visit:  https://caibc.ca/ccfprofiles/