As distress centers in Canada experience a surge in demand with the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, on Thursday, August 18, Elisabeth Briere, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced an investment of CA$150,000 toward Tel-Aide Montreal to support its crisis line during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per a press release, the grant will help the organization cope with increasing demand by recruiting more listeners and equipping the organization with training and resources to cater to the diverse needs of listeners.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted many people, affecting their physical and mental health, employment, relationships, and other aspects of life. Distress centers such as Tel-Aide Montreal offer very important assistance to people, connecting them to appropriate supports and resources that will have substantial benefits and help those in crisis. We want people to know that if they need help, they are not alone, and that there is support available to them,” said Elisabeth Briere, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health
This grant is part of a CA$50 million investment first announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement to support distress centers across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.