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New program for mental health and addiction patients By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 9 · Wednesday, May 12, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com When you think of someone with a mental health issue or an addiction, the figure of a street person on University Avenue may come to mind. More likely, it's the guy or gal beside you on the GO train heading to work that may find themselves in emergency as life veers out of control. And with no broken bones or visible blood, they may end up waiting there for hours, only to return home with little help in sight. It's also very likely, their individual scenario will repeat itself within the next month and they'll be right back in emergency not knowing where to turn. That's the picture painted by statistics gathered by the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). When LHIN went to its community recently to determine a future plan of action, the agency asked the community to identify problems and gaps in the health care system. Radhika Subramanyan In this instance, based on what it heard, it successfully won $1.5 million in ongoing annual provincial funding for a new Community Concurrent Disorders Program. The details of the new community concurrent disorders program were announced Friday at a press conference at the Oakville LHIN office on Dorval Drive. Now open for business, 17 staff have been hired across five local agencies to improve the service received by patients with both a mental health issue and addiction (a concurrent disorder) in emergency rooms across Halton and Mississauga. That means the patient will have someone meet them, determine a plan and provide tools to manage and hopefully break the addiction -- right at home. They will also receive ongoing support for their mental health illness through counselling, treatment, as well as other assistance as required in regard to issues that may be related to one or both of their issues -- for example, they may have lost their job or home and need to get back on track. Nora McAuliffe is the program implementation co-ordinator with the lead agency the Canadian Mental Health Association, Halton Region Branch. She painted a scenario where a woman seeks treatment in emergency for anxiety or depression and then turns to drinking a bottle of red wine daily to cope. Grouping mental health and addiction together is a major shift in paradigm ­ a very positive one, according to CMHA-HRB CEO Radhika Subramanyan. McAuliffe said, historically, the two were in separate silos and were addressed by two different systems. Officials, who deal with both, like the new shift in thought as they know that up to half of those treated for a mental illness also have an addiction. "The real message here is people," said Mississauga Halton LHIN board chair John McGill, who noted the specifically-targeted investment will also help free up room in emergency departments. The CMHA-HRB, as lead agency for the new program, is charged with ensuring the program via the agencies delivering it achieves the results. Among those results are an 80 per cent reduction in early return visits to emergency (within a month); a 10 per cent reduction in emergency visits for those with concurrent disorders, reduced average length of hospital stays, an increase in client expe- rience and satisfaction and better service for those in need. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, who is also chair of the Provincial Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, said more than 440 agencies deliver mental health services in Ontario. "They don't all know what each other are doing and not everyone knows how to contact them," said Flynn. "The floodgates are just about to break open because people are taking it upon themselves to speak out." Subramanyan said there are growing needs in the youth and senior populations while Ian Stewart, executive director of ADAPT admitted alcohol and gambling continue to be problematic as they are legal options that carry the possibility of addiction. With at least half of people with mental illness having a concurrent addiction, the provincial government, in a bid to help -- and divert emergency visits by establishing more community services -- has written a $1.5 million cheque to Halton and Peel regions. Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada Have your say.... Public Open House May 19, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Town Hall, Oakville and Trafalgar Rooms 1225 Trafalgar Road Members of the public are encouraged to attend and provide input at a public open house hosted by planning staff regarding the Downtown Oakville Strategic Review. The open house will provide you with an opportunity to learn about the strategic plan for downtown Oakville, provide comment and feedback, and help confirm its priorities. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Presentation at 7 p.m. The purpose of the Downtown Oakville Strategic Review is to produce a strategic plan with a prioritized set of actions to maintain and improve those qualities that make the downtown a great place. The strategic plan will address critical factors including cultural heritage, urban design and streetscape, public facilities, economics, transportation and sustainability. To comment or ask a question, contact Kirk Biggar, senior planner, Planning Services department at: 905-845-6601, ext. 3968 or kbiggar@oakville.ca. Visit www.oakville.ca/lo-dntwnoakville.htm for more information. Since the town approved the first municipal cultural plan in October 2009, local community and cultural leaders have gathered to form the Oakville Cultural Roundtable. The roundtable is committed to growing Oakville's cultural vitality by initiating projects that move beyond the strategies outlined in the town's municipal cultural plan. The cultural forums will introduce Oakville's first municipal cultural plan; discuss new opportunities and challenges facing your community; and build shared commitment to action. The forums will take place in each ward as follows: Ward 2 Wednesday, May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oakville Public Library - Woodside branch, 1274 Rebecca Street Ward 4 Wednesday, May 12, 7-9 p.m. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Glen Abbey Golf Club, 1333 Dorval Drive Ward 5 Thursday, May 20, 7:30-9 p.m. River Oaks Recreation Centre - Community Room C 2400 Sixth Line Ward 6 Tuesday, May 18, 7-9 p.m. Town Hall, Trafalgar Room, 1225 Trafalgar Road Downtown Oakville Strategic Review Public input on cultural initiatives needed The Town of Oakville and the Oakville Cultural Roundtable invite you to attend a cultural forum in your community. Your input will directly impact which projects and initiatives the Roundtable will move forward with to enable culture to thrive in Oakville. For more information on Oakville's Cultural Plan, please visit www.oakville.ca/cultureliveshere.htm. For a map of Oakville's Ward boundaries, please visit www.oakville.ca/wardmap.htm. Please note that the Ward 1 and Ward 3 cultural forums have been completed.