Manitoba NDP pledge money for counselling, mental-health services

Manitoba New Democrats are promising more money for mental health if they win the Sept. 10 provincial election.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew says he would pump an additional $1.5 million a year towardfree andsubsidized mental-health counselling services offered by organizations in order to offer more sessions.

Kinew says he would expand mental health services at the province's Access community health centres by hiring seven additional counsellorsand by developing a virtual counselling optionthrough avenues like textingfor post-secondary students.

If elected, his party would also develop four teams of mental-health nurses, social workers and youth workers who would travel to different schools to work with kids in need. The NDP pegged the cost at $1 million annually.

Easier on students

Under the current model, Kinew said, students may have to open up about their struggles several times to teachers, counsellors and other adults.

"We want to make it easier on the student, on the young person, so that they only have to tell their story once," Kinew said, explaining students would be referredto additional resources if needed.

The pilot project would be expanded if it proves successful, Kinew said.

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Kinew says his ideas would help reduce costs for people seeking help and make the services more accessible.

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