The Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Mental Health Action Table of Grey Bruce is pursuing more ways to support mental health needs in the area.
Scott McKay, Director of Client Services at the Canadian Mental Health Association and one of the Mental Health Action Table leads, says they are leveraging an existing partnership that existed prior to Community Safety and Well-Being.
That would be the Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addiction Network Table.
"Which is comprised of the three main mental health leads in Grey Bruce. So that would be Brightshores Health Systems, Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association of Grey Bruce," McKay detailed.
McKay says the main goal of the action table is to find ways to serve the people they work with better.
"So looking at barriers to receiving services, gaps in services, and ways we can collaborate to improve mental health and addictions supports around the region," added McKay.
When it comes to gaps in service for those who need and want to access mental health and addictions resources, McKay says one issue people in the region face is distance, and inability to access services in rural areas when compared to urban ones.
"One of the major barriers to accessing services in Grey Bruce, is the distance between certain rural communities and where the services exist. So one of the gaps is transportation, and how do we get people from where they're located to access the services," McKay explained.
With respect to the importance of mental health and addictions services in the region, McKay says the table continues to push for more new resources and enhancements for existing ones because the services they provide are so vital.
"I think we need to enhance mental health and addictions supports throughout the region. I think we've made some progress, obviously with the Brightshores Wellness and Recovery Centre (located at the Owen Sound Hospital), and the 14th Street Project (also in Owen Sound), which is transitional supportive housing," McKay pointed out.
The Brightshores Wellness and Recovery Centre, according to the Bruce County website, is a project that is "the first of its kind in this region. Based on harm reduction and recovery principles, the Wellness & Recovery Centre will provide a safe environment for individuals in need of support and management of their substance use and mental health concerns. The model of care is based on key wellness outcomes identified in the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum: purpose, meaning, belonging, and hope."
Grey County owns the building at 386 14th Street in Owen Sound that houses the comprehensive mental health and addiction supportive housing service. CMHA Grey Bruce received funding that allows for 24/7 staff support at the site.
"This high-intensity supportive housing model will help individuals transition successfully into stable housing while reducing the reliance on emergency services," according to the release on the Bruce County website.
Additionally, Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services has recently received funding to support an expansion of their live-in treatment program for youth 12-17 years of age. In addition, the organization has recently assumed ownership of a new building that will allow the program to expand from 6 beds to 13.
"With the new space and funding, the treatment model will now expand to include longer term (up to one year) treatment options in addition to intensive in-home supports up to a year in length at the pre-and-post admission stages to support better integration back to the family and community setting," noted the release on the Bruce County website.
More on the Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Mental Health Action Table and local mental health resources can be found here: https://www.brucecounty.on.ca/news/2024-jul-31/enhancing-mental-health-supports-grey-bruce-cswbp-mental-health-action-table and here: https://cswbp.brucecounty.on.ca/.
