Ontario Government supporting new mental health program for OPP and their families

The Ontario Government announced new mental health program for provincial police officers and their families on Friday.

The new program will help Ontario provincial police remain healthy and improve the security for the people of Ontario.

The mental health program will incorporate access to employee and family assistance programs, services for children and seniors, crisis intervention specialists and mental health treatment facilities.

“The unique challenges and demands our brave men and women in uniform experience on the job when protecting our communities can have a severe impact on their mental health and emotional well being” said Sylvia Jones, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services in provincial release. “The commitment we are making today, in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police Association, will address a mental health crisis in the OPP.”

The Ontario Provincial Police launched an inner survey after a series of suicides among its positions last summer.

The release from the provincial government does not address how much funding will be required for the new program.