$1.13 Million Detox and Residential Treatment Facility Proposal Made; Operations Could Run Early As Fourth Quarter

In an effort to help prevent drug overdoses and save lives, politicians, local medical figures and addiction support staff have declared an application for a detox and residential treatment facility announced at Showplace Performance Theatre on Monday morning.

Last year, 539 individuals from our community attended the Emergency Department for drug poisoning, Emergency Medical Services responded to 357 opioid poisonings 911 calls according to PPH. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

MPP Dave Smith, Mayor Jeff Leal and County Warden Bonnie Clark announced the proposal in a joint effort from the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) and FourCast. In attendance were representatives from FourCast, CMHA HKPE, Peterborough Public Health, Peterborough EMS, Peterborough Police Service and Peterborough Regional Health Centre alongside the politicians, announcing their support for the facility.

“Peterborough Public Health welcomes this proposal for more local treatment and detox services and the opportunity it creates to strengthen our response to the drug poisoning crisis” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health. “Along with the Peterborough Drug Strategy partners we have been advocating for more tools to address the crisis for over a decade. If funded this will become a critical part of the local response.”

The facility will primarily serve Peterborough County, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, Curve Lake, Alderville and Hiawatha First Nations. The proposal of $1.13 million annually for a two-year period is serving as a pilot basis to determine its effectiveness for further consideration.

“If the funding letter is provided to us by the end of March, we could potentially be operational by the fourth of this year, sometime in the fall,” said MPP Dave Smith.

Additional funding of just under $300,000 will be needed from local community partners to help establish the facility during the two-year pilot basis. The information and progress will go to Ontario Health to determine its effectiveness.

Six drug and six detox beds will be available at the facility for those battling with addictions. Waitlists for beds can take one to two days depending on demand but residential treatment can take from three to six months. The location has yet to be determined.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $360,000 Into Mental Health and Addictions Pilot Project to Aid 320 People

The Ontario Government is funding $367,480 to non-profit organization Right to Heal for mental health and addictions services for 320 people announced at the Peterborough County-City Paramedics on Friday.

Peggy Shaughnessy, Founder and President of Whitepath Consulting (pictured) has had her organization in operation since 2005. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The project, “Moving Beyond Addiction” will service over a 16-month period will use the Redpath program via Whitepath Consulting to treat addictions by using psychology-based methods to identify the reasons behind substance abuse and developing the social, emotional and practical skills to move beyond addiction and fully reintegrate back into society.

“Individuals with addictions more often than not develop addictions by using substances to either feel something or numb something. The root cause is almost always trauma; whether it’s from abuse, mental health challenges or pain,” said MPP Dave Smith. “If we are truly going to address the mental health and addictions crisis, a wide variety of treatments options need to exist locally.”

The program will work under a referral process administered by the Elizabeth Fry Society, enabling the funding for the pilot to flow fully to program services.

Clients referred to the program will typically be homeless, at-risk of homelessness, living with mental health/addictions issues and trauma, or disconnected from appropriate services.

Peterborough Police, Peterborough County-City Paramedics and Peterborough Regional Health Centre can refer clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing opioid overdoses.

Health and social services can refer clients from places such as the Consumption and Treatment Services/Opioid Response Hub, Brock Mission, Cameron House, and One Roof Community Centre. The program accepts family and self-referrals.

“With the recent announcement regarding the Consumption and Treatment Services funding, this funding will help expand addiction treatment services in our area and allow funding for the Redpath program that has shown great success in other areas,” said Peggy Shaughnessy, Founder and President of Whitepath Consulting.

Once referred, clients will undergo a rigorous and evidence-based assessment to determine the correct treatment for their unique needs.

The assessment will consider multiple variables to determine their needs including backgrounds of trauma, abuse, domestic violence, housing status, financial situation, and level of substance abuse.

After the assessment, they will enter into one-on-one counselling and/or the Redpath Intervention Program. It consists of 21 counselling and training sessions in three-hour spans in both community and institutional settings.

Sessions focus on identifying trauma and the cause, understanding why a client uses substances, the development of coping mechanisms and practical, emotional and social skills.

Clients will enter an After Care Program, requiring two hours on a weekly basis for group training sessions focusing on personal development and fully reintegrating back into society.

“We have had the opportunity to connect clients to the program and are witnessing firsthand the impact Redpath has. We at Elizabeth Fry can see this program coming alive through our referrals from various connections within the health care and criminal justice sectors,” said Debbie Carriere, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough. “As someone who has completed this program myself, I can truly speak to the excellent opportunity this is bringing to our community for healing.”

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First Mobile Clinic For Mental Health and Addiction Coming to Peterborough Area

A custom-built retrofitted bus for mental health and addiction services is coming to Peterborough and the surrounding area announced by the Ontario Government at the Knights of Columbus Doyle Hall on Thursday.

Hon. Michael Tibollo (left), Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has previously spent a decade as an addiction counsellor. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The setup will have a team of nurse practitioners, social and service workers to provide resources, support — including psychiatric — with follow-ups as necessary. The bus is expected to be operating by roughly Jan. 1.

“The first mobile health unit to be deployed in the province of Ontario is being funded by the Ontario government,” Hon. Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. ”The unit will provide support and services to individuals to their local communities without having to have them come into the hospital or go to one of the other cities to get support for mental health and addictions.”

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA-HKPR) will be responsible for overseeing the development and operation of the mobile mental health clinic in Peterborough. They provide programming and services to the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes,

The mobile unit reduces the need for people to travel to find services and can meet more clients in more places.

“Through our government’s Roadmap to Wellness we are committed to breaking down barriers to accessing high-quality mental health and addictions services where and when it’s needed,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This innovative partnership will help to bring needed mental health and addictions services directly to individuals living in Peterborough and the surrounding areas.”

Thrilled to be with @DaveSmithPtbo to announce that our government is investing in the development of a mobile #MentalHealth and addictions clinic for #Peterborough & the surrounding region!

This clinic will bring MHA services directly to the communities that need them. pic.twitter.com/g0yUaYcxgR

— Michael Tibollo (@MichaelTibollo) October 28, 2021

“Since the release of Roadmap to Wellness last year, our government’s top priority has been to continue making critical investments that will fill urgent gaps in mental health and addictions care, reduce waiting lists and address extensive wait times,” said Tibollo. “Through the development of the mobile mental health clinic, clients and families in Peterborough and the surrounding region will have greater access to high-quality, evidence-based care in a setting where they are fully supported on their journey towards recovery.”

A second bus will be added through fundraising efforts from the CMHA. One for Peterborough and Northumberland County and the other for Haliburton and the City of Kawartha Lakes. The Ontario government will help fund the operation of both mobile units.

"Mental health is a pandemic,” said Hon. Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “We have to remember that people's mental health is fundamental to any recovery."

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Peterborough Start-Up Redpath Hosts Launch Party At Market Hall December 12th

Next Thursday (December 12th) at Market Hall, Peterborough-based startup Redpath will be introducing their social network for mental health and addiction, along with the premiere of its Redpath YouTube video by local video company Whitebulb. The redpath model has been used offline for many years in communities to treat those in need. Now, bringing it online, this social platform will use technology to deliver real-time access to those in need. Redpath is about connecting the disconnected. You can follow redpath on Twitter @redpath_, and on Facebook at TheRedPath. Email info@redpath.io to RSVP or call 705-874-3048. See poster invite below...

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