(Engin Akyurt)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

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Province shares where some previously announced mental health funding will go

May 30, 2020 | 12:36 PM

The provincial government is announcing where some of the money from its $53 million Mental Health Action Plan promise in April will go.

The Government of Alberta says it will put $21.6 million of that towards expanding online resources and virtual supports for Albertans who are seeking help for mental health and addiction challenges due to COVID-19.

“Many Albertans have needed greater mental health and addiction recovery supports during the pandemic and will continue to need help once it’s over,” says Jason Luan, Associate Minister of Health and Addictions. “This funding is giving more people free access to supports 24-7, and it’s enabling our government to work with our sector partners to develop other innovative supports. We are in this together and we will support Albertans every step of the way.”

The funding is broken down as follows:

• Expand Kids Help Phone and crisis text line – $1.8 million
• Expand Addiction Helpline and the Mental Health Helpline – $9.6 million
• Expansion of 211 – $3 million
• Big White Wall – $1 million
• InnoWell – $2 million
• Community-based supports – $3 million
• With approximately $1.2 million in capital costs

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Big White Wall, an online community for Albertans to communicate with their peers who are dealing with similar issues, is very happy to receive funding.

“People come to Big White Wall for support with a wide range of mental health and well-being issues – from anxiety, depression, isolation and stress, to relationship problems and lifestyle challenges,” says Matt McEvoy, senior vice-president. “The safety of members and clinical rigour is at the core of what we do and we have a network of trained professionals to provide 24-7 support for Albertans.”

A government release says since March 27, when expansion of the helplines and Alberta 211 went into effect, more than 1,000 calls have been received for addictions help (1-866-332-2322).

The mental health helpline (1-877-303-2642) has taken more than 3,400 calls, and Kids Help Phone has experienced a 50 per cent increase in demand.

Kids Help Phone is available 24-7 and offers professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people: 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.

The Crisis Text Line Alberta is a service available 24-7 that offers information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for Albertans of all ages, by texting CONNECT to 741741.

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