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Name change for Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services

The organization is now known as CMHA North Bay and District

Effective today, the community mental health, addictions, and housing support agency formerly known as Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services (NMHHSS) has been rebranded as CMHA North Bay and District.

“There are many benefits to becoming a CMHA and leveraging the expertise of its network of branches across Ontario to improve programs and services for our region," said CEO Mary Davis. "We look forward to bringing our expertise to the network while also learning best practices from our provincial counterparts."

In October 2020, the then NMHHSS board of directors approved a motion to become a CMHA branch.

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

The move came on the heels of the local CMHA Nipissing Branch having its charter revoked in 2019. That summer the Canadian Mental Health Association Nipissing Regional Branch was stripped of its Branch Charter by email by the CMHA Ontario Division Board of Directors.

Tom Walters, Chair, Board of Directors of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division said “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.” 

See: Charter revoked from CMHA Nipissing Regional Branch

And: Nipissing CMHA branch responds to having charter revoked

A news release issued today said participating in the CMHA network will provide NMHHSS clients and staff additional resources, supports and programs.

"The agency will be able to offer CMHA Ontario provincial programs such as Bounce Back, Mental Health Works, Talk Today, Living Life to the Full, Resilient Minds and In the Know, which are available to clients and the broader public. As well, NMHHSS will be able to access the expertise of CMHA Ontario initiatives like the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health and the Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee Secretariat."

“With this addition today, our network of branches in Ontario is stronger," says said CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville." CMHA North Bay and District is already a well-established leader in community-based mental health and addictions care, and becoming a CMHA will only stand to improve the high level of service clients already receive. We’re excited for what’s to come.”