New Windsor transitional stability centre aims to improve mental health services

 The plan is to create a transitional stability centre in Windsor where patients requiring mental health care can visit and be directed to the appropriate supports in the community. This proposal is the first of its kind for the province, created with input from multiple organizations including Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, the Windsor Police Service, CMHA Windsor Essex, local homeless shelters and other community programs.

The new centre aims to divert individuals requiring mental health and addictions treatment from the hospital emergency room and get them the help they need as efficiently as possible. According to a report from the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network, Windsor currently has one of the worst records in the region for patients who go to the emergency room for substance abuse treatment, get sent home and then return for more help in the same month.

The hospital emergency room is often the first point of mental health and addictions care for people because patients simply do not know where else to go or the services they require are closed. The new centre will have extended hours and a nurse on site to ensure clients are in the right place.

CMHA Windsor Essex CEO Claudia den Boer Grima told the Windsor Star that that the branch’s partnership in this initiative is focused on keeping people connected with the community and giving them easy access to the resources they need.

The first step in the new plan is an interim centre, which is expected to open in downtown Windsor mid-June.

For more information, check out the Windsor Star article on the new centre.