While the provincial government is set to launch a mobile mental health and addictions clinic to cover four counties, a local leader in mental health is troubled that her organization was not consulted or informed about the program before it was announced to the public.
The province has partnered with a private company, Medavie Health Services, to provide a mobile van that will make its way around Huron, Perth, Bruce and Wellington counties, with a clinical staff aiming to reduce the distance people in rural communities have to go to get care.
Catherine Hardman, CEO of CMHA Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services, has plenty of concerns and questions.
Hardman had little information about the initiative until learning about it with everyone else at a press event last week in Huron County, hosted by Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson.
"There was no consultation, absolutely zero about the nature of this," Hardman told StratfordToday. "We know the communities, we already have the partnerships, we know where our gaps are. If you are going to put (funding) into the system, then give it to a service that is already here, knows the community and has the partnerships to leverage that."
Thompson said in a media release after the announcement that removing barriers to care for mental health services is paramount when it comes to the recovery and overall well-being of those facing these challenges - no matter where they call home.
"The fact that we can now provide expert supports to people where they are and when they are at their most vulnerable – and in a timely manner - is invaluable," Thompson said.
So far, five mobile mental health and addictions clinics have been launched and are delivering services to communities in Peterborough, Kenora, Niagara/Haldimand/Norfolk, Manitoulin Island and Hastings Prince Edward County.
The mobile team will have "extensive knowledge of the programs and services that exist in the region, allowing them to help guide people to the most appropriate care based on their individual needs", according to information from the Province.
It will operate 8-10 hours per day, five days per week in set locations identified through consultation with the community.
Hardman met Medavie president Eric Sande at the press event. Sande said he is looking forward to meeting with providers and finding out where the gaps are.
"We know where the gaps are," Hardman said. "It's disappointing that they didn't choose to consult with us. I let Lisa know that. I was clear with her that I was disappointed that (the funding) didn't go to a local provider. What would have been helpful is to have a conversation with us before the press conference."
Hardman is well-connected locally. She was named the first CEO of the merged local CMHA branch, shifting over from her executive director role at Choices for Change, an alcohol, drug and gambling counselling service, when that organization merged with the local CMHA branch.
The integration of addiction and mental health agencies in Perth and Huron was to ensure residents can better navigate their way to finding help, the organization said in January at a media event in Stratford.
As part of that process, Hardman said stakeholders led sessions with community partners for months to answer questions about merging and to discuss opportunities and challenges.
Hardman said she didn't even know that Bruce and Wellington counties were part of the combined mobile mental health coverage area until Thompson's press conference in Clinton.
"I can't just say it is a good thing for our system without talking to my community partners. It's a little bit frustrating."
In the media release, Sande added: "We need to find ways to increase access to mental health and addictions supports to ensure Ontarians can receive high quality care when and where they need it. We look forward to collaborating with the Ontario government and community stakeholders to deliver an effective mobile mental health and addictions clinic that supplements existing local services while creating a new pathway to care.”
“Individuals living in rural and underserved communities often face additional barriers connecting to the mental health and addictions care they need, and we are taking action to remove them,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
Hardman said her organization has 23 locations across Huron and Perth and employees go to people's homes. They offer in-person, phone and ZOOM meetings as well. There are about 90 staff at the newly-combined CMHA branch, Hardman said at the time of the merger.
Combining Choices for Change and CMHA under the same umbrella was thought out and the right thing to do, Hardman said at the time.
"A lot of our clients are clients of both organizations. There is a lot of crossover between mental health and addictions. A lot of concurrent - mental health and addiction issues - the same clients, similar programs...it made sense to bring it all together and have it really, truly integrated."
Hardman said they will work with their new community partner.
"The reality is we have to work with them because they are here. It may be a service that is useful to us. We don't want more confusion in the system, we are trying to simplify the system, this complicates it. It goes against the work of the Ontario Health team trying to integrate services, to all of a sudden have another service come in that is not connected to any other organization or service here."
