London's 'game changer' mental health-care model inspires revisioned plan in Windsor
HDGH thinks new model will fill gap in overnight mental health and addiction services
Just two hours up Highway 401 from Windsor, Ont., there's a mental health and addictions crisis centre that is a "game changer" for the London community.
Now, a Windsor hospital is eyeing the same model as it plans to re-submit a proposal to the province after its original one was turned down.
Since 2015, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley branch has operated a 24/7 crisis centre where anyone with mental health or addictions issues can walk in, 365 days a year.
And in 2020, Ontario legislation allowed paramedics to drop off those patients, giving them access to specialized services in one location.
The goal was to alleviate overburdened emergency rooms and gets first responders back on the road faster.
"I think that this has been a game changer for our community," said Lori Griffith, director of crisis and access at the CMHA in London.
"Obviously when you're new coming into the system it can be challenging to navigate. So the crisis centre also can help support that acute crisis but then also look at a system navigation piece in terms of connection, referral to other resources."
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) is looking to construct a similar model. The hospital said it will fill a gap in the overnight hours for mental health and addiction support.
"If an emergency room is the only option for an individual in crisis ... this is a better option because it is purposely designed and modelled to deal with that specific need," said Bill Marra, CEO and president of HDGH.
"Frankly, it's a more civilized, humane way to deal with individuals who are dealing with these crisis. That's fundamentally also important here. We can't lose sight of that fact."
Original plan not approved by Ontario Health
In January, HDGH's proposal was denied by Ontario Health — a government agency tasked with overseeing health-care planning and delivery.
That plan, supported by six other community partners, would have seen a mental health and addictions emergency room opened at the hospital's west end campus in about two months.
And, that would have been a location for police and paramedics to drop off patients in crisis.
Currently, the only place for that to happen is a traditional hospital emergency room, where those first responders can be tied up for several hours waiting to offload.
An Ontario Health spokesperson told CBC News in an email it provided detailed feedback to HDGH as to why it wasn't successful in its bid.
"Critical to this process is a review of existing community resources and collaboration between hospitals, Ontario Health Teams, and local community health service providers to ensure resources are best used to meet the needs of the community," said an Ontario Health spokesperson in the email statement.
"To date, these key requirements, including the submission of a comprehensive proposal, have not been received by Ontario Health."
Marra said his interpretation of the statement was the previous plan wasn't "comprehensive" enough.
Now, he said he will once again speak with community partners and plans to submit a revised version to Ontario Health for consideration.
Police ask health-care sector to do more
Windsor's police chief, Jason Bellaire, has previously called for better mental health supports in the community saying many calls of this nature often end up in the laps of front line officers.
Last month, the Windsor Police Services Board passed a resolution, calling on other agencies to step up and better support people struggling with mental illness in the community.
In London, they've had a 24/7 mental health and addiction crisis centre open 365 days a year since 2015.
Mental health waits much lower than traditional ER
Anyone in crisis can walk through the front doors in London into a bright, colourful waiting room, not an area that feels "institutional."
Officials say people are often seen almost immediately. But if there is a wait, it likely wouldn't be longer than 60 to 90 minutes before they're assessed.
That's a stark comparison to wait times at Windsor Regional Hospital, which have been the highest in the province.
In May, the average wait to see an emergency room doctor at Windsor's Met Campus was 4.6 hours compared to the provincial average of two hours, according to Ontario data.
London paramedics back on road within 10 minutes
In the back of the London crisis centre, run by CMHA's Thames Valley branch, is a designated area for an ambulance to drop people off.
Paramedics are usually in and out within 10 minutes, according to officials.
By contrast, paramedics can sometimes spend an entire shift waiting to offload a patient at Windsor Regional Hospital.
Essex Windsor EMS chief Bruce Krauter previously told CBC News about one patient being on an ambulance stretcher for 24 hours waiting to be admitted.
WATCH | Take a tour of London's mental health and addictions crisis centre
There has been strong support for the London crisis centre from local police, paramedics and the London Health Sciences Centre.
HDGH said its initial plan had support from Windsor police, LaSalle police, OPP, Essex-Windsor EMS and CMHA Windsor-Essex County. The London Health Sciences Centre also reviewed and signed off on the plan.
Now, HDGH leaders say they will reconnect with those partners and others to find a plan that works best for the entire community.
CBC News asked Windsor Regional Hospital if it supported the plan. The hospital responded with an emailed statement.
"We suggest you talk to Ontario Health to receive comment on the previously provided feedback to HDGH," said Steve Erwin, a spokesperson for Windsor Regional Hospital.
Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie said collaboration is an important piece of the Windsor plan.
"I'm going to go to bat for health-care in our community every step of the way on the proposals they agree on are the priorities for us," said Dowie.
"But I do need for the partners of the Ontario Health Team of Windsor-Essex to collaborate on a solution for mental health."
Current mental health resources
In addition to HDGH's mental health plan, there are other local initiatives that already exist:
- In May, a pilot project began pairing a Windsor Regional Hospital nurse with a police officer to offer substance-related care in the community
- In 2020, HDGH partnered with the local CMHA to open the the Safe Bed Short-Term Residential Crisis Housing Program, which helps people who are homeless and have mental health or drug issues
- HDGH partners with police agencies with its Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) program and Windsor Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT)
- There's also a the Youth Crisis Response Team, a partnership between HDGH and Essex County OPP focusing on helping youth with mental health-related concerns
- HDGH also operates a mental health crisis centre from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week at 744 Ouellette Avenue.
But one of the gaps identified by local service providers and Windsor police was a place for people in crisis in the overnight hours that isn't a traditional, and already busy, emergency department.
Marra said the hospital will submit a revised version of the plan in September to expand mental health and addiction services in Windsor-Essex and hopes to get a response from Ontario Health that same month.
According to Marra, HDGH could get one up and running in about 60 days, while a more permanent solution would take six to seven years.
Last month, HDGH announced it submitted stage 1.3 of its mental health bed expansion project. Among the changes, 68 acute mental health beds will move from Windsor Regional Hospital to HDGH, and open an urgent psychiatric crisis service and other programs.
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