Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Honourable members, it's a pleasure to be joining you here today. Thank you for the invitation. I'm looking forward to having meaningful and important conversations that I know matter to Canadians.
I'm pleased to provide you with updates on some of the work we are doing to address the issues of mental health and substance use, but before I begin, I will add to the many tributes to Dr. Stephen Lucas, which are well deserved. Since our coming into this position, Dr. Lucas and his team have really guided me and Minister Holland with such a steady hand and a calm vision of what is important in the health of Canadians.
Dr. Lucas, you leave a legacy that is impressive by all standards and accounts, and you have served Canadians so well. For that, we are truly grateful.
Colleagues, this past fall, our team and I launched the 988 suicide crisis helpline, providing access to bilingual, trauma-informed and culturally appropriate suicide support to all Canadians. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and I know that we've worked across party lines on this initiative, because helping Canadians should never be a partisan issue. In its first two months of service, 988 responded to over 72,000 calls and texts from across Canada. This helpline represents an important step forward in providing timely and accessible access to crisis mental health supports.
We continue to work to build the overall capacity of the health care system through our historic investment of $200 billion over 10 years. This includes $25 billion in bilateral agreements that outline specific actions, including those to improve access to mental health and substance use services. Through these agreements, some of the actions supported by federal funding include supporting more integrated youth service hubs, reducing wait times for community mental health and substance use services, expanding access to provincial programs that provide counselling and support, and prioritizing culturally appropriate services where needed.
On top of these specific actions, mental health and substance use care is being integrated throughout the whole health care system, from family health services and the health workforce to data and digital tools. This will improve the system's capacity to respond to patients' needs for mental health and substance use support because, as we know and we say often in this place, mental health is health.
Tragically, the toxic drug supply and overdose crisis continues to cause immeasurable pain, suffering and heartbreak across our country. I want to acknowledge the important work this committee has been doing to study this critical issue. I know that we all share the same determination to end the overdose crisis and to save lives. This echoes what I'm hearing from my counterparts across the country, which is that we have the same objective: helping Canadians.
To do that, we need to learn from experts, in particular those working on the front lines of this crisis. They are truly the heroes of the health care system. We need to listen to those with lived and living experience, including family members, and as leaders, we need to work co-operatively to ensure a comprehensive and compassionate approach that is patient-centred.
Our government's actions are guided by Canada's model. Our goal is to ensure that all Canadians have access to services and supports across the spectrum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery, while also leveraging enforcement tools to keep our communities safe. As part of our approach, we are investing in programs like the substance use and addictions program, which allows us to support community organizations that are working directly to reduce harms and to support people in need.
As you have heard or may know, the illegal drug supply is deadlier than ever before, with potent substances like xylazine and nitazenes entering the already lethal illegal drug supply. This reality puts all those who consume substances at high risk. It also compels us to act to ensure that live-saving interventions are as widely available as possible, including in rural and remote areas of the country.
Colleagues, we have much more work to do in this space. However, I look forward to having meaningful discussions today on the work that is already in play and how we can better serve Canadians. I look forward to your questions.
