NEWS RELEASE
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION COCHRANE-TIMISKAMING
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John Vanthof, Member of Provincial Parliament for Timiskaming-Cochrane, and Charlie Angus, Member of the Canadian House of Commons, visited the Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane-Timiskaming Branch on Oct. 14, 2021.
Mr. Vanthof and Mr. Angus visited the New Liskeard site to learn about the different programs and services offered by the CMHA-CT in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, and New Liskeard areas.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane-Timiskaming Branch (CMHA-CT) shared information regarding their Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team, an exciting collaborative partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in both Kirkland Lake and the Temiskaming region.
This collaborative effort will allow the Kirkland Lake and Temiskaming region communities to access much-needed additional community support services related to both addictions and/or experiencing a mental health crisis.
The newly formed Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) is currently operational and consists of CMHA-CT and OPP providing both police services as well as access to a Mental Health Worker both on-site and for follow-up support within their catchment area. Funding and resources for the MCRT unit was made possible via DTSSAB, the CMHA-CT, and OPP in both Kirkland Lake and the Temiskaming region.
Features and benefits of the MCRT include:
- Increased support services and access to local mental health and addiction services.
- Provide a direct point of access to ongoing support via community program referrals andfollow-up services.
- Reducing stigma and increasing education and support related to both mental health andaddictions.
- Reduce unnecessary visits to hospital emergency departments and reduce criminaljustice involvement.
The MRCT is now fully operational within the Kirkland Lake and Temiskaming catchment areas.
The group was also able to learn more about the Timiskaming Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane-Timiskaming Branch (CMHA-CT) and the Englehart Family Health Team (EFHT). The clinic provides expedited, barrier-free treatment for clients who have a substance dependence or disorder, particularly with reference to alcohol or opioid use.
The RAAM clinic is part of Ontario Health North’s Regional Opioid Strategy, designed to meet the rising rates of opioid use disorder, accidental overdoses, hospitalizations, and hospital emergency room visits across Northeastern Ontario. The strategy was developed by the Regional Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Council, which continues to work alongside local mental health and addiction programs and services across the region to ensure Northerners have timely and equitable access to care.
The goal of the RAAM program is for individuals to be seen within 72 hours of referral or request for support. Depending on the intrinsic needs of the individual, a client accessing a RAAM clinic may be assessed by both a nurse practitioner and/or a mental health and addictions clinician.
Once a client accesses RAAM services either by walk-in or referral, an assessment is completed, followed by development of a comprehensive treatment plan focusing on the individual and their unique needs. While not everyone with a substance dependence or substance use disorder requires pharmacological treatment, appropriate clients may benefit from prescription medications that may help lessen withdrawal symptoms and assist with recovery.
RAAM is designed to help prevent overdoses, provide a clear pathway to treatment, and seek a reduction of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for people living with addictions.
Hours of Operation
The RAAM clinics are accessible at each of the following locations at the specified times:
Kirkland Lake (CMHA-CT)
Tuesdays
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
5 Kirkland Street East
Kirkland Lake, Ont. P2N 1N9
705-567-9596
New Liskeard (CMHA-CT)
Thursdays
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
20 May Street South
New Liskeard, Ont. P0J 1P0
705-647-4444
Englehart (EFHT)
Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
63 Fifth Street
Englehart, Ont. P0J 1H0
705-544-2321
These programs and services are crucial to the well-being and health of individuals within our communities. They allow for an all-encompassing treatment plan, and for clients to gain meaningful, needed support services when they are needed most. We urge you to contact your local Canadian Mental Health Association for more information or visit our website at cmhact.ca.
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