More Canadians are seeking help for mental health issues, yet access to services addressing them remains a challenge in Windsor-Essex.
A new, expanded partnership was announced Friday between Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and the Canadian Mental Health Association's Windsor-Essex County chapter, to provide those experiencing a mental health crisis with a one-stop shop for counselling and follow-up. The focus of this expanded alliance is the Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre in downtown Windsor.
Despite the continuation of already successful efforts to take the pressure off of paramedics, law enforcement and hospital emergency department personnel by providing seven-day-a-week resources to those vulnerable and in crisis, local mental health officials still insist there is a long way to go.
Claudia den Boer, the CEO of the CMHA Windsor-Essex County chapter and the new executive lead for community mental health, told reporters on Friday that a severe need for mental health access in Windsor-Essex still exists, in spite of the efforts currently being made.
"I think it requires us to do some redesign on how we deliver services, but we actually need to have more services here available, particularly in the area of addictions," said den Boer.
The drive to have more services available has been an ongoing project for the CMHA Windsor-Essex County. den Boer pointed out in the summer of 2018 that mental health advocates had been in the process of increasing mental health access for some time, with priorities given to youth, housing and homelessness and expansion of psychiatric care. den Boer stated at the time that having more psychiatrists in Windsor-Essex is key to addressing the medical component of addiction, but admitted that it could still be a couple of years before a fully-functioning system is in place.
Public awareness campaigns such as Bell Let's Talk have helped more Canadians brush away the stigma that still surrounds mental health and become more open about their struggles with anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses, as well as the triggers that set these off. As a consequence, existing resources remain strained.
Ontario's PC-majority government, as well as the federal Liberal government, have promised continued support across the province toward increasing mental health access, with Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, announcing a new strategy last month that encouraged the strengthening of partnerships such as the one between HDGH and CMHA Windsor-Essex County.
den Boer said she is eager to see how those resources will help those in Windsor-Essex and has even invited Elliott to Windsor to see things for herself.
"We're looking forward to the new mental health and addiction funding that has been promised," said den Boer. "We certainly want to see our share here in Windsor."
CMHA Windsor-Essex provides answers to inquiries about their services, and they can be reached via email or by calling (519) 255-7440 during regular business hours. The Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre on Ouellette Avenue near Tuscarora offers services through both walk-in and referrals, and they are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
For those experiencing a mental health crisis, a 24-hour-line is available at (519) 973-4435. For major life-and-death emergencies, call 911.
-With files from Paul Pedro