With 4,000 Canadians ending their own lives last year, the Acting Medical Officer of Health wonders why mental health investment isn't at least equal as efforts to prevent traffic accidents.
By comparison, 1,900 Canadians died in crashes last year.
"Think about all the energies that we commit to prevent road traffic collisions, speed enforcment, engineering, medical treatments," he said.
It's Mental Health Week, and Doctor Shanker Nesathurai points to gaps in the mental health system, especially for children and those who suffer addiction.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit does not keep statistics on local suicides, but Nesathurai said the burden is likely similar to provincial and national rates.
CEO Nicole Dupuis admitted access to mental health treatment has improved from a few short years ago.
"There are a number of resources that didn't exist previously, but there are still significant gaps and significant investment that's needed," she said.
She points to the addition of the Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre at Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and the Youth Mental Health Hub. She also cited the work of mental health professionals to coordinate care for patients.
For those parents with children suffering mental health challenges, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare even unveiled WEConnectKids, a centalized resource to connect families with care.
"WEConnectKids is a system of care and collaboration to ensure children, youth and their families know where and how to access service, no matter where they live in Windsor-Essex," said Terra Cadeau, the Executive Lead of Children and Youth Mental Health Lead Agency, Strategy and Partnerships at the hospital.
The service is free and confidential. Children and youth or their parents or caregivers can access it.
Monday to Thursday, the number to call is 519-257-5437 (KIDS) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. On Fridays, the phones are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-in service is also available at the Regional Children's Centre.
"Our goal is to create a more seamless, connected, accessible mental health system for our community's young people," said Executive Director of Children's First, Lori Kempe. "It's important to knote that WEConnectKids is not intended to be the sole access point -- If children, youth or families have an existing relationship or connection to a specific provider, they, of course, can continue to work with that agency."