Mental health and addictions 'community crisis' underway

It’s being called a community crisis in the area of mental health and addictions locally.

That’s why the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) is calling for a third party independent review of mental health and addiction needs in the district.

They say those needs account for a significant portion of the 20 per cent jump in the most critical calls to EMS land ambulance over the last four years.

The LHIN is reviewing the request, but the board says if the situation isn’t addressed the vulnerable will continue to experience shorter life expectancy and will die prematurely.

Reports indicate that North Bay and district has a higher percentage of complex, vulnerable clients waiting on the Health Care Connects Waitlist, a service that helps people find primary care through a doctor.

DNSSAB CAO Joseph Bradbury says the under-served, vulnerable population needs doctors to even access appropriate care.

“Too many vulnerable people in our District are suffering needlessly because they don’t have a doctor who can address their needs or refer them to the appropriate service that can help them,” says Chair of the DNSSAB, Mark King, “What compounds this problem is that the lack timely access can lead to degenerating health conditions and increased costs through emergency department visits and increases the urgency of ambulance calls. In the case of mental health and addictions, increased police calls and, ultimately community victimization, have occurred when substance abuse and mental health issues go unchecked. This is a grave community crisis we are seeing.”

Bradbury adds that preventable deaths are the priority.

“This crisis needs direct leadership from the NE LHIN and Ministry of Health, and we are willing to co-lead the review. The Ministry of Health and NE LHIN have a responsibility to ensure everyone in Ontario receives equal healthcare access, regardless of where they live. There remains a significant gap in health equity in the District and in Northern Ontario,” he says.

The DNSSAB put forward a request for action in a meeting in January with the Ministry of Health, and was assured this issue would be addressed.

“We have seen no real effort on the part of the Ministry or the NE HLHIN to help,” says King. “A crisis requires more than a band aid. We need a solution that will help the most vulnerable navigate through the healthcare system, and we’re asking the NE LHIN to help us come up with that solution.”