The need for a substantial increase in funding for mental health services

 In Question Period on May 24th, I asked the Minister of Mental Health and Community Wellness about the critical need to increase funding for mental health services in Manitoba. My question and the Minister's response are below.

Mental Health Services
Need for Funding Increase

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, Manitobans like Raven Deering in Brandon now wait eight months to see a psychiatrist, even with an urgent referral.

      For years, Manitoba has underspent on mental health. Even this year, it will only reach 5.6 per cent of the prov­incial health-care budget when it needs to be up around 12 per cent.

      Psychological therapies, including family ther­apy, are still not covered under medicare in spite of Manitoba Liberals calling for this for the last seven years.

      When will the minister act to improve prov­incial mental health funding so that Manitobans like Raven  Deering and new arrivals from Ukraine or Afghanistan will not have to wait eight months to see a psychiatrist when it's needed urgently?

Hon. Sarah Guillemard (Minister of Mental Health and Community Wellness): I ap­pre­ciate the member opposite asking these questions, and he's right, in that the mental health system has been under­funded for many years–decades, in fact. And our gov­ern­ment is changing that trajectory by investing more than $58.1 million into the mental health system since 2019, and an ad­di­tional 17.1 this year alone as part of our five-year road map.

      Madam Speaker, there is a shortage of psychia­trists and psychologists nationwide, all through North America, and we are looking at creative ways to expand those services. It's not a question of whether or not we can afford to hire; it's a question of whether we can hire–or, find the people to hire.

      So we are working diligently–

Madam Speaker: The member's time has expired.