Mental health and addictions crisis centre is moving some of its programs to downtown

A number of programs currently running out of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's 744 Ouellette Ave. location are being moved to a new downtown campus to serve people with mental health issues and addictions, the hospital announced Wednesday.

The hospital said the move to 500 Ouellette Ave. will take place between June 17 and 22.

Bill Marra, the hospital's president and CEO, told CBC News that this is a "transformational move" that will allow Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare to "provide a far better option" as it relates to people that are seeking medical attention during a mental health or addictions crisis.

"So, if you're 16 years of age or older and you don't have access to primary care and you don't have other options, rather than going to an ER, we can divert from the ER to support our friends at Windsor Regional Hospital and provide far more specific care as it relates to any mental health or addictions crisis."

Marra said services will be available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"Relocating a variety of mental health and addictions services to our newest downtown campus … will bring us closer to the downtown core," Marra said.

"Further, the opening of a dedicated space for a Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre, adjacent to the Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus Emergency Department, is crucial for supporting those in immediate need."

The Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre was opened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its services are intended for individuals aged 16 years or older who can't safely wait for community mental health and addiction support.

"By offering specialized care and intervention, we aim to divert clients from the emergency department, ensuring they receive the appropriate support in a timely manner," Marra said.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare said services to be offered at 500 Ouellette will include:

• Injection clinic.

• General psychiatry clinic.

• Transitional youth clinic.

• Assessment and referral.

• Wellness program.

• Community withdrawal management.

• CMHA — co-ordinated access.

• Assertive community treatment — date TBD.

'An excellent initiative': WRH CEO

Karen Riddell, acting president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, called it "an excellent initiative to ensure these patients get the care they need much more quickly."

She said staff at the hospitals will work "literally side by side" to make sure people get the right care.

'A wonderful move': CMHA CEO

Meanwhile, Nicole Sbrocca, CEO of CMHA Windsor-Essex County, said it's "a wonderful move."

"In this early phase — phase one is what we're calling it — there's no shift in terms of the client or patient experience. They would walk in the door in the adjacent space right beside the Ouellette campus emergency department, much like they would have at 744 Ouellette," she said.