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Local mental health group to become a branch of Canadian Mental Health Association

Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services is a local mental health, addictions, and peer support agency that specializes in support services to people who have a serious or persistent mental illness, and may have other medical and/or behavioural complexities
CMHA logo

Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services (NMHHSS) will become a branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) as of April 1, 2021.

The name change won't impact the services the group provides said NMHHSS CEO Mary Davis in a news release. "Our organization has autonomy and operational control over the programs and services we offer, so I want our staff and clients to rest assured that the supports we provide will not be impacted.”

The move comes on the heels of the local CMHA Nipissing Branch having its charter revoked last summer.

In July the Canadian Mental Health Association Nipissing Regional Branch was stripped of its Branch Charter by email by the CMHA Ontario Division Board of Directors.

“The Board of Directors for Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division has made the difficult decision to revoke the charter of CMHA Nipissing Regional Branch, formally terminating our agreement effective six months following written notice to the branch," stated Tom Walters, Chair, Board of Directors of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, in a release.

“For more than three years, CMHA Ontario has, in good faith, engaged in a collaborative approach with the branch to encourage integration with local partners but to no avail,” stated Walters.    

“The board for CMHA Ontario has taken this next step to align with changes occurring in the community mental health and addictions sector. The province has made clear its desire to see integration amongst agencies and ultimately far fewer community-based mental health and addictions providers."

The revocation meant that the organization was not permitted to use the CMHA name, logo, or brand beyond January 5, 2020.

Frontline staff and administration working at CMHA Nipissing Branch were integrated into the Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services. (NMHHSS).

See: Nipissing CMHA branch responds to having charter revoked

And: Charter revoked from CMHA Nipissing Regional Branch

And: Mental health and addictions care integration on track

Participating in the CMHA network will provide NMHHSS clients and staff additional resources, supports and programs says a news release.

“Becoming a CMHA branch is an important milestone in the transformation of mental health and addictions services in the Nipissing area,” said NMHHSS board chair Mike Monaghan. “CMHA is among the most identifiable and largest national organizations of its kind, and the CMHA core values align with those of NMHHSS."

“NMHHSS is a well-established, definitive leader in community-based mental health and addictions care in Nipissing District, and CMHA Ontario is very pleased to welcome the organization to the branch network,” said CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville. 

NMHHSS has served approximately 1,580 people between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, in the areas of mental health and addictions services, supportive housing and rent supplements, and related programs.

Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services is a local mental health, addictions, and peer support agency that specializes in support services to people who have a serious or persistent mental illness, and may have other medical and/or behavioural complexities.