Mental health programs in New Brunswick received a financial boost of over $410,000 on Saturday.
Jeff McAllon, president of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, says the funding is a new provincial record.
“There was research funding in there, programs for children, programs for seniors, programs for folks with Alzheimer’s, it was board and across the full spectrum," McAllon said.
McAllon says the funding will be spread across the province.
"Last year we set a record in the province of New Brunswick in terms of private funding for mental health initiatives, and that was $357,000,” McAloon said. “Today, we blew that away with $411,000 in funding. We're really proud of that."
Twenty receipts received funding on Saturday, including one doing research out of Moncton. It will receive $125,000.
Mindcare New Brunswick will also benefit from the funding. It’s a group that hosts events and fundraises year-round to collect money for organizations who work with mental health.
"We connect with these mental health-care providers, we connect them with donors, so when donors want to make an investment in mental health care, they come to us and we connect their dollars with those really important projects,” said mental health program manager Bernie Goguen.
Patients would typically be referred to a mental health institute by their family doctor, but with lengthy wait times, it’s not always the best option.
"Currently we don't have a very strong partnership with those providing initial mental health services,” said family physician Dr. Tom Laughlin. “But with this endeavour, what will happen is the professional will be in our offices, we'll have the opportunity to network with them, talk to them about our patients and to learn from them and for them to learn from us.”
McAloon says more money is being raised for mental health every year, which is a testament to how important mental health is.
He says the bar will be set higher next year, but he's hoping the people who use the programs and services that received funding will benefit.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ashley Blackford.
