TORONTO - The province says it is joining forces with several partners to help people get treatment for mental and physical illness.
Health Minister Deb Matthews announced Tuesday the newly created Medical Psychiatry Alliance which will offer support across the province.
She says the government will spend up to $20 million over the next six years to lead the initiative.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Trillium Health Partners, the University of Toronto and a private donor are putting in the rest of the money, for a total of $60 million to create the alliance.
The initiative involves developing new screening and diagnostic tools, ensuring physical and mental illnesses are treated simultaneously and developing specialized clinical training for medical students.
The province says more than 1.3 million Ontarians experience physical illness combined with mental illness.
