Addressing Mental Health and Addictions Needs, Together

The CSWP recognizes that equitable, accessible, and trauma informed mental health services are at the core of system action to support safe and well communities.  Residents and partners have identified the need for new service and response models to better support community members experiencing mental health and addictions issues.

Mental health and addictions system partners established the Mental Health and Addictions System Transformation Team to look at regional needs and priorities using an equity lens. Both Waterloo Region Ontario Health Teams are part of this team.

Current Initiatives

Youth MHA Prevention

This mobilization team advances prevention-based actions for youth to reduce negative downstream outcomes including problematic substance use and untreated mental health concerns.

Frequent Individual Users

This mobilization team focuses on supporting residents who most frequently access emergency departments for mental health and addictions services.

Data and Evaluation

This mobilization team collects and analyzes existing local data to see how residents use the mental health and addiction system. This analysis will help to coordinate care and identify gaps and opportunities.

Housing and Homelessness

This mobilization team is focusing on addressing stability for unhoused individuals dealing with mental health and addictions.

Supporting People Holistically as a System of Providers

This mobilization team looks at how to support people holistically within the mental health and addiction system. The first focus of this team is to create connections between primary care providers and mental health and addiction services.

Alternate Destination Clinic

This project aims to provide non-emergency room locations for immediate access to mental health and addictions crisis services.

Homelessness, and Addictions Recovery Treatment Hubs

HART Hub provides caring and coordinated support to meet immediate needs, and to help people build stability while facing housing, mental health, and substance use concerns in Waterloo Region.

Next Steps

  • A new mental health and addictions System Transformation Table comprised of both Waterloo Region Ontario Health Teams has been established to look at regional needs and priorities.
  • An application for funding of the Integrated Crisis Centre (ICC) has been submitted to the Ministry of Health. In the interim, the clinic will operate on a reduced capacity utilizing existing resources. Once additional resources are received, and the clinic is able to increase hours and services, Paramedic Services will submit an application to the Emergency Health Service Branch to begin the process of becoming an Alternative Destination Clinic.

Other Priorities for Action

Creating safe and inclusive spaces

Combatting hate

Addressing intimate partner violence, gender based violence and missing and murdered Indigenous women

Contact Us

Get involved. Stay informed.

Stay up to date on what’s happening with the CSWP and get information on community events coming up that are related to this work.