Addiction, mental health services simplified
Some of the hurdles and obstacles along the road to wellness have hopefully been removed with the creation of AccessMHA, a single portal through which Eastern Ontario residents can access care for mental health, substance use and addictions when they need it.
Announced Wednesday, the online site brings together numerous organizations and partners to streamline the process for those seeking help. Those age 16 and older can go online at www.accessmha. ca/ to book an appointment with a mental health and addictions professional, who will then connect them with the service or services best suited to their needs.
A Leger survey released earlier this month by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction indicates that 14 per cent of Canadians have reported symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, a sevenfold increase from before March 2020. Meanwhile, only 42 per cent of Canadians described their mental health as very good or excellent, a large decline from the 67 per cent who made the same claim in 2019.
Meanwhile, the poll notes that fewer than one in four Canadians access available services.
The AccessMHA initiative, organized by the Partners for Regional Co-ordinated Access for Mental Health and Addictions, includes support from clinicians, peer support workers and information providers from almost 20 organizations, including Ottawa Public Health, area hospitals, the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region, The Royal, Youth Services Bureau, Montfort Renaissance, The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, and the Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA).
The service is available to residents of Ottawa, Cornwall, Hawkesbury and surrounding areas, including Lanark, Leeds and Grenville; Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry; Prescott-Russell; and Renfrew counties.
According to CAPSA founder Gord Garner, AccessMHA hopes to smooth what in the past has been an “incredibly complex, undiscoverable pathway for many people.”
“The people who are suffering, or concerned for a loved one, want to know more than anything else that they're not mistaken about their hopes for help,” he said.
“When they can't access help, or they're told they are at the wrong place or that they don't qualify for this help, it may take them decades to come back seeking help again.”
It's expected that while AccessMHA will streamline and simplify the process of seeking help, it will also shorten wait times and wait lists for mental health, substance use and addiction services.
“It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help,” says Dr. Kim Corace, vice-president of innovation and transformation at The Royal.
“We need to make sure that when people are reaching out, that they know where to go and that they're confident there is help out there.
“We can help get them connected to that and give them hope.”