Edited by Trish and Stew
Sandra McCabe is the new Regional Director for Elgin & West Middlesex. Sandra comes from the Strathroy rural community where she held the Regional Manager role for Strathroy and area. Sandra is a Registered Social Worker who has worked with CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services’ legacy organizations for 17 years. Sandra lives in a rural community herself and thrives on getting to know the community needs to best support the addiction and mental health concerns for the area. She noted that during the pandemic, not only clients but staff have needed care. Sandra comes today to talk about the changes that CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental health Services has seen and experienced through the agency’s integration and during the world wide pandemic and to share an update on the addictions and mental health programs and services specific to the Elgin region.
In Sept 2021, the reorganization of CMHA began; amalgamation involved three branches and boards from Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford and beyond. New programs, mission, vision, and values were established. Each staff member reapplied for their job and no one lost their job. The changes of the organizational structure appeared seamless to the clients.
Now there are 13234 clients, 25 points of access, 603 staff, 385 volunteers serving a population of 500,000 people. Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services provides community, peer, housing, medical/psychiatric, Crisis, Treatment and recovery services. One specialized program, PEPP, sees clients 14 to 25 years of age after their first psychotic episode to help with early treatment which is more effective. Digital media, aka zoom/social media, have been integrated to their systems. Rural areas remain difficult to serve with these tools as internet/electronic equipment is limited at times. The hybrid zoom model is used for meetings. There are 5 sites in St Thomas (including STEGH, Police services, the INN), and one in Aylmer
COVID brought isolation and uncertainty. Increases in demand for services are as follows: 56% Case management, 78% non face to face interaction, 26% crisis intervention, 43% support phone line, 54% addiction and mental health issues combined.
Q&A
Nancy: news today indicates that the level of legal drug use will be increased in the next year in B.C. Mental Health services are not meant to judge or stigmatize.
Trish: re Safe injection sites? Police locally mentioned the increase in crime around these sites, but needles left in every park in the city is not safe either, nor does it address the “harm reduction goal”. The increase in on-line gambling is high and is a difficult problem to resolve.
Malcolm: Do different community services work together? Yes. The INN might be the centre of collaboration.
Bellow is a pic of our Hybrid meeting
Announcements:
Next week: 8Jun22 David Knoppert-Solar Cooking 3rd world
Trish booked the North side of the large pavilion by water at Pinafore Park for our changeover 22Jun22. 5 committee members are making arrangements.
Nancy gave a huge thumbs up to the volunteers at the “Heroes Lunch” in support of the Hospital staff last Thurs. 200 were served but were prepared for 250. The cookies were a hit. The cost was $500. St. Hilda’s- St. Luke’s shared the cost with the Rotary Club of St. Thomas.
50/50 was won by Malcolm
Happy Finns:
Malcolm – just back from great trip to England, the Queens Platinum Jubilee is the biggest thing there in a long time
Nancy – STEGH lunch and volunteer help, Sandra
Pat – an in-person wedding where people dressed more formally for the occasion
Gerry – gave happy finns for Malcolm to hand in
Sandra – happy to share, thanks for invite
Ron – Today’s presentation (note: Ron was property support at community living for many years), Cliff’s medical report very good, Keychain for 81mgAspirin available and do members want him to order more?, cost $5 each and Ron gives any profit to Interactors.
Trudy – back from Greece, Thursday’s STEGH lunch, completing police quiz at a virtual conference (last year she was 3rd, this year 2nd place and received an Amazon gift card for correct and quick answers), presentation today
Barb – STEGH lunch, rain
