CMHA North Bay and District relocation plan aims to make access easier for clients
The Canadian Mental Health Association North Bay and District (CMHA) is streamlining access to its mental health and addiction care programs through a major relocation project.
Adopting what the CMHA describes as a “campus model,” the goal is to improve the ability to access mental health and addiction treatment along the Main Street West location.
“Clients can come in off the street and have easy access to our services,” said CEO Mary Davis.
The relocation has been planned over the last four years since four social agencies -- Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services, People for Equal Partnership, the North Bay Recovery Home and CMHA Nipissing -- joined together to form CMHA North Bay and District.
A 7,800-square-foot building on Main Street West will be the new hub for mental health and addiction care. The building was the site of a department store for decades and, more recently, a spa and salon.
“We do have a waitlist and that's something we are trying to work on,” Davis said.
The relocation has been planned over the last four years since four social agencies -- Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services, People for Equal Partnership, the North Bay Recovery Home and CMHA Nipissing -- joined together to form CMHA North Bay and District. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)
“We do believe this will be helpful.”
This relocation starts Monday. The CMHA’s newly named Peer Connections drop-in centre moves from its current spot on Ferguson Street into the hub building. Operating hours will remain Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with entry via a side entrance on Fraser Street. Formal appointments can be made through the front door at reception.
Peer Connections offers various activities, groups and programs, both in person and virtually for clients.
Jason Corbett, CMHA North Bay and District director of operations, took CTV News on a tour of the new site Thursday morning.
“This will have all kinds of tables and chairs in this large space for when they play cards or they're doing, you know, different crafts and that kind of stuff,” Corbett said, pointing into a large empty room.
Second phase
The second phase will take place in mid-April. It will see CMHA’s main reception and all client meeting spaces for case management, trusteeship, and justice services moved down the street from its second-floor location at 176 Main St. West to the hub.
The new space includes group rooms, laundry and shower facilities, two kitchens, office space, a community room and individual meeting spaces for clients and staff.
“So if we’re doing financial planning with them, then we can show them the same screen,” Corbett said, showing off one of the one-on-one rooms.
CMHA North Bay and District is currently seeing between 150-200 client referrals a month from the community. That is why Davis the centralization is needed.
“For someone to be able to access services and navigate the system, it's much easier to have one door, one point of access for an individual,” she said.
The goal, CMHA said, is to make mental health and addiction services more accessible for those who require that support.
Davis said once the facility is fully up and running, CMHA will invite the community to an open house during Mental Health Week in May.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Scheffler detained by police at PGA Championship for not following orders after traffic fatality
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was detained by police Friday morning on his way to the PGA Championship, with stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was led to a police car. ESPN reported he failed to follow police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.
Ontario sees first measles death in more than a decade after young child dies
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Jessica Biel hopes to normalize the conversation around menstruation with a new children's book
Jessica Biel is the author of a new children’s book focused on destigmatizing and normalizing the conversation around menstruation.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.