Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Mental Health Division
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Mental Health Division was created in 1950 within the Ontario Department of Health, assuming the mental health functions of the former Hospitals Division. Its name was changed to Mental Health Branch in 1960, and back to Mental Health Division in 1966.
In 1952, the Minister of Health announced the establishment of a provincial grants programme for building psychiatric units in general hospitals. Grants up to $8500 per bed were offered. Accommodation for patients continued to expand throughout the 1950s, but there was a continuing shortage of staff. In 1959 the direction of mental health services changed whereby comprehensive and integrated diagnostic and treatment services were available in each region of the province, served by a single hospital or group of Ontario hospitals. These were supplemented by short-term treatment centres. In addition, community mental health clinics were established for out-patients.
In 1966, the Mental Health Division consisted of four branches: the Mental Hospitals Branch, Mental Retardation Branch, Professional Services Branch and the Hospital Management Services Branch. In 1969, in response to the requirements of the new Children's Mental Health Services Act, the Division also included a new Children's Services Branch.
The Mental Health Division was moved to the newly formed Ministry of Health in 1972 and was briefly known as the Psychiatric and Retardation Division. In 1973, the Division was disbanded and its functions were transferred to the new Direct Services Division.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
The Mental Health Division administered legislation relating to mental health in Ontario, including the Mental Hospitals Act (governing provincial mental hospitals, hospital schools and mental health clinics), the Psychiatric Hospitals Act, the Children's Mental Hospital Act, and the Private Sanitaria Act. It acted as a consultative service, and distributed National Health Grants funds for teaching and research, and to service facilities in the field of mental health. For a time, it also served the mentally retarded.
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Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
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Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
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Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
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Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
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Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
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Epithet
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
RG 10 Inventory
Maintenance notes
Canadiana
Archivist(s):
J. Emery, Marg McIntyre