Today was one of the regular meetings of the Nipissing Addiction and Mental Health System Committee. This group has been meeting for the past 17 years to collaborate on efforts to build capacity and better meet the needs of people living with mental health and addictions in our community.
This committee includes senior health care leaders, community members with lived experience, and community partners who work together to identify and address gaps in the system.
“I’m so proud of the group’s commitment to an integrated service delivery system and how we all worked together to provide better programs and services that meet the needs of people with addiction and/or, mental health concerns living in our community,” says Wendy Prieur, Committee Co-Chair and North Bay Recovery Home representative.
As advisors, some of the things they have been informing and influencing in our community include:
- a new Service Navigation Tool with the assistance of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) helps system providers streamline referrals for clients allowing faster access to a wide range of services such as health, food banks, housing, and employment services
- no wait time for specialty programs offered at the Mental Health Clinic managed by the North Bay Regional Health Centre. These include: Therapy Services, Eating Disorders, Early Intervention Program and the Continuing Care Program.
- a newly launched health equity clinic located downtown, with funding from the North East LHIN and managed by the North Bay Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic to serve the marginalized population of our community
- a rapid access addiction medicine clinic (RAAM) with North East LHIN funding to help serve people with opiate or severe alcohol addiction (opening soon)
- a significant reduction of wait time for the North Bay Regional Health Centre’s Outpatient Psychiatry Services—a successful reduction from two years to 60 days
- a new pilot project facilitated by the North East LHIN where Mental Health and Addictions counselors provide support in a DNSSAB apartment building to better connect people with services
- the North East LHIN Addiction Services Review by Dr. Brian Rush--a comprehensive analysis of strengths, gaps, and challenges faced by Northerners accessing addiction services.
- a Community Wellness Program to provide interim supports and services to individuals who are on a waiting list for mental health and/or addiction services or seeking additional supports
The focus of the Committee in the next year is to align with the recommendations put forth by Ontario’s Mental Health & Addictions Leadership Advisory Council.
“In light of the excellent work underway to address health equity and access to care for people living with mental health and addictions, we look forward to continuing this work as we support our system partners and better serve our community,” says Laurie Wardell, Committee Co-Chair and North Bay Regional Health Centre representative.
