Better mental-health transitions sought for youth
DON FRASER
POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Mental health challenges are daunting for young people.
Depression, self-harm and emotional disturbances can require constant professional help to ensure children, and their families, are safe and that a healing plan is in place.
These issues won’t necessarily resolve themselves when a child becomes an adult, and needs new services.
Young clients and their families can be frustrated, and sometimes slip through the cracks when transitioning to adult mental-health care providers, from those that focus on youth.
With this in mind, the boards of the Canadian Mental Health Association–NiagaraandPathstone Mental Health are joining forces to fill those gaps for clients who “age out.”
Discussions are continuing at their respective boards about how they can better work together to develop services that are more seamless and responsive, to ensure continuity.
Pathstone CEO Shaun Baylis said the initiative also flows from a provincial government drive to improve access to care in that way across Ontario.
“It’s been a real gap in the system. … we need to find the means to make this transition much smoother for them,” said Baylis.
“When you have two specific locations for children and adults, there isn’t (that transfer) that can occur without developing protocols, understandings or having teams working together,” he said.
“This is what both boards are working toward, to have that collaborative spirit and continuum of care so kids can … have those services carry on for them.”
Baylis said examples of this might include crisis services or specialized housing.
George Kurzawa, executive director of CHMC – Niagara, said his organization would explore opportunities to “blend our services, so that we can provide a more seamless service for the youth.”
Among areas where co-operation is already happening is via “mobile, crisis on the street services we do with the police.” Through that, a social worker does a ride-along with a Niagara Regional Police officer in shifts that involve interactions with youth. The interventions can include crisis calls from families.
“We’re looking at closer cooperation with (those programs), so we can provide more effective and quicker resources for people,” Kurzawa said.
“Both boards are very much committed to doing better for our youth and the transitional age group.
Each board has strong representation from the family-client community it serves: “They are people who know the … system and who have experienced it, or are directly experiencing it themselves,” Kurzawa said.
A visitor from Cleveland, who owns multiple vehicles and multiple guns, claims he had no intention of trying to deceive a Canada Customs officer when he crossed the border at the QueenstonLewiston bridge.
Robert Henderson, 42, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Ohio, said he answered no when asked if he had any weapons because “in my mind I thought it was in the other car. It was an oversight.”
Henderson, a first-time visitor to Canada, was found to be in possession of a Glock 45 calibre pistol and a magazine with six bullets, when his vehicle was pulled over and searched last year on Sept. 5.
The magazine was found in the glove box and the gun was found in a suitcase in the trunk.
Henderson, who is charged with smuggling a weapon and making a false statement under the Customs Act, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in the Ontario Court of
I have the need to arm myself due to the nature of my job … sometimes people are not happy … I also do restoration work and you can run into gangs.”
Robert Henderson Justice in St. Catharines.
Henderson and a female passenger, Faye Fields, who is now his wife, were on their way to spend a few days in Toronto over the Labour Day weekend.
Matthew Boyle, an officer with the Canada Border Services Agency, said Henderson’s demeanor changed when he was asked if he had any weapons. The officer said the driver answered no, but seemed unsure. He did inform the officer he had a carry and conceal permit in the state of Ohio.
The vehicle was pulled over for a secondary inspection where officers WilliamRitchieandCameronO’Brien found the magazine and gun.
Federal prosecutor Darren Anger said the gun was tested and found to be in working condition.
Defence lawyer Taylor Robertson asked his client about the vehicles and guns that he owns.
Henderson, who works at the Cleveland airport and also does home renovations, said he owns three guns, a shotgun that he keeps at home and two handguns, a Glock and a smaller 9mm, that he rotates in his vehicles.
“I transfer the guns from car-to car,” said Henderson, who has no criminal record or criminal history. “I have the need to arm myself due to the nature of my job … sometimes people are not happy … I also do restoration work and you can run into gangs.”
Henderson said his gun is kept in a holster and when he is carrying it he keeps it loaded.
The trial continues Thursday.