WELLINGTON COUNTY – The number of people here in need of support with mental health and addictions continues to increase, as does the intensity of the struggles people face.
That’s according to the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW), where “it’s been “an exceptionally busy year,” said chief executive officer Helen Fishburn in an interview with the Advertiser.
One cause for the increase is ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fishburn said.
“The [pandemic’s] wake is still very wide … there’s still a lot of people struggling to unpack all the layers.”
There are 3,151 people on CMHA WW waitlists.
“We are doing everything we can within what we have available to be able to respond to that need in many different ways,” Fishburn said, but the field of mental health and addictions support “is a cup that’s overflowing.”
In the CMHA WW annual report, a joint message from board chair Kathy Markowiak and Fishburn notes that the increase is particularly steep for families and children.
Climate change impacts
Calls surge during storms, whether that’s a snowstorm, a thunderstorm, or a smokestorm, Fishburn said.
Storms keep people inside – reducing social interactions and exercise, and increasing isolation and anxiety.
And storms make “people very worried about climate change, and what’s happening to our planet, and where things are going into the future.
“Every part of our work is being impacted by climate change,” she added.
“It’s so very scary what’s happening, and something definitely people need to pay attention to.”
Youth support
To meet the rising need for children’s psychiatry, CMHA WW is opening a Children and Youth Services building in Guelph.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington is opening a Children and Youth Services building in Guelph. In its final stages of construction, the building will open in October, with about 100 staff providing services for over 9,000 families, children and youth. Submitted photo
The building is in the final stages of construction and will open in October, with about 100 staff providing services for over 9,000 families, children and youth from birth to 18 years old.
It will also be home to a Grove Youth Wellness Hub, where youth from 12 to 26 years old can get support with “everything under the sun,” Fishburn said, such as “resume writing, career counselling, art classes, cooking classes,” and a space to participate in sports.
Senior support
CMHA supports people of all ages, and “it’s never too late to address your mental health” – that’s according to 76-year-old Gerry.
“Because of CMHA WW, I am hopeful, and I don’t feel I have to be shy or a victim anymore,” he states in the report.
In April 2022, feeling frustrated and low, Gerry called Here 24/7 (1-844-437-3247).
“I was advised to walk into the CMHA WW office in Guelph, where I was greeted by an incredible intake worker who was able to help me find calm,” Gerry states.
He went home that day with confidence he would receive support.
When he received a complex post traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, Gerry states he “felt validated that after 60 years” he finally received an official diagnosis.
“I have been on medication for most of my life but was never asked about my childhood abuse that led to bouts of depression over my lifetime.”
Gerry notes he “avoided reaching out for 45 years because of shame and guilt,” but asking for help changed his life.
“I feel like a different person, and I never thought it would happen in this lifetime.”
Land based healing
CMHA has a strong partnership with Crow Shield Lodge, an Indigenous land-based education and healing space created by Clarence Cachagee, Fishburn said.
The services offered through Crow Shield Lodge are vastly different from talking to a therapist in an office because “the land is the host and the partner in the healing process,” she noted.
Land-based healing is “really an incredible thing to experience,” Fishburn said, with focus on renewing people’s “relationship and connection to the land in order to restore balance and identity.”
Services at Crow Shield Lodge are offered by Indigenous people but are open for clients from any background.
Many CMHA WW staff have attended sessions there and said it was wonderful and powerful, she added.
There are currently two Crow Shield Lodge locations, one in Kitchener and one in New Hamburg, but there are plans to open a third site within Wellington County.
Further changes this year
The CMHA WW has been working with the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team to increase communication between care providers and improve experiences and outcomes.
CMHA WW has also launched a client council, composed of former and current clients who provide input and feedback to improve services, policies and processes.
CMHA WW launched a client council this year, and members Sea C., left, and Niki V, centre left, recently attended a walk-through of the Cambridge Community Mental Health and Addictions Clinic with Director of Services Jeff Stanlick, right, and Here 24/7 Team Lead Parminder Bharta, centre right. Submitted photo
Bahar Tajrobehkar, a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion lead was hired this year, and CMHA WW are currently recruiting a mental health and justice Indigenous liaison.
Increased costs
Funding for mental health and addiction suppport is not keeping pace with increases to costs, Fishburn said.
“Rent has gone up,” she notes, as has the “cost of operating a building: utilities, property taxes, garbage systems,” across 10 offices.
Fishburn said they’re avoiding consolidating the offices because “we want to make sure we are physically present in the communities that we support,” such as Mount Forest and Fergus.
Despite increased costs, CMHA WW hasn’t “received a base budget increase since 2018,” Fishburn said, “and that was only two per cent.”
“Given inflation, cost of housing, [and the] cost of food, it’s incredibly challenging for our staff to be able to meet the financial requirements [and] financial demands,” Fishburn said, addibg CMHA WW has not been able to offer staff significant wage increases.
The province verbally announced a five per cent base budget increase earlier this year, but CMHA has not received that promise in writing, Fishburn said.
And “frankly, that base budget increase will only kind of fill the gaps that we’ve experienced – kind of top up a legacy gap,” she said.
The 5% increase would enable them to address the increase to operational costs and provide wage increases to staff, but not increase services or programs.
Community support
Fishburn noted CMHA WW are very grateful for community support and partnerships that make their work possible.
This includes the McFadden’s Movement Celebrity Charity Golf Classic, presented by SkyJack, that raised $25,000 for CMHA WW last year. This year, the annual tournament will be at Ariss Valley Golf and Country Club on July 21.
The McFadden’s Movement Celebrity Charity Golf Classic, presented by SkyJack, raised $25,000 for CMHA WW and Wes for Youth last year. This year, the annual tournament will be at Ariss Valley Golf and Country Club on July 21. From left: Emma Martin from Wes for Youth, CMHA WW Fund Development Manager Beth King, and Guelph Storm hockey player Garrett McFadden. Submitted photo
Elements Casino Grand River in Elora raised $4,656 for CMHA WW last year.
“It’s really, really heartwarming to see the response from the community,” Fishburn said, and community support is the reason “we have been able to be successful and grow and develop and meet our goals.”
