The province currently treats mental health and addictions care as two distinct issues with separate services. The Manitoba Mental Health and Addictions Strategy report from Virgo highlights issues with long waits for services and says the provinces need to increase services in rural and northern areas and to fill gaps between acute-care services and community-based ones. It recommends a centralized intake for addictions and mental health services, an audit of barriers to access, more telehealth and community-based treatment options with extended hours as well as increased capacity for mental health housing. Virgo also recommends the province expand and diversify its workforce, adding more peer support workers, recovery coaches, psychiatrists and nurse practitioners.
NBHC Care Experience