Grant to help improve access to mental health services

The Mental Health Community Care Hub is one step closer to reality after York Region Council announced a one-time, $5-million capital contribution funding grant to the Canadian Mental Health Association, York-Region South Simcoe (CMHA-YRSS).

“Struggles with mental well-being can go undiagnosed and may result in higher risk for unemployment, poverty and homelessness,” says Acting York Region Chairman and CEO and Town of Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “When complete, this much-needed resource will provide residents with more access to dedicated mental health and addiction supports.”

In June 2023, Council committed to the capital contribution conditional on provincial approval and funding for remaining capital costs. The Ministry of Health approved the Hub project in March 2024. The Hub will be centrally located at 17255 Yonge St. in the Town of Newmarket near Southlake Health and along a major Regional traffic corridor with access to transit and emergency services.

“Through the York Region Community Safety and Well-being Plan consultations, we learned there is a lack of awareness about available mental health supports or where individuals can go to access them,” City of Vaughan Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, Chair of Community and Health Services says. “Through our partnership with CMHA-YRSS to develop the Hub, we anticipate we can help meet the growing demand for these vital supports.”

With Ministry of Health approvals and Town of Newmarket zoning approvals already in place, CMHA-YRSS expects service delivery to begin in 2026. “The Hub will fill a current gap in mental health services by providing residents with more timely access to dedicated mental health and addictions supports and divert demand from local hospitals to free up resources for other needs,” according to a Report of the Acting Commissioner of Community and Health Services Lisa Gonsalves. 

CMHA-YRSS is an award-winning branch of the national nonprofit Canadian Mental Health Association, which facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve mental health and community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness and addiction.