Downtown Windsor crisis centre has seen 150 first responder, ER referrals since going 24/7

A downtown Windsor, Ont., centre for urgent addictions and mental health crises says it's seen a big jump in referrals since expanding its services this spring.

Aside from accepting walk-ins, it now takes drop offs from EMS and local police, and creates an alternative to the emergency department for officers and paramedics to bring people in crisis. 

The unit now accepts intakes 24/7. 

The centre is located at 1030 Ouellette Ave. and is adjacent to the Goyeau Street entrance of Windsor Regional Hospital's emergency room.

It also now has four stabilization care beds where someone can stay for 48 hours, with an entrance that's monitored by security, including a metal detector.

The Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre (MHAUCC) provides service to people 16 years of age or older and is run by Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

Tammy Kotyk, vice-president of mental health and addictions services at HDGH, says since the hours were extended they've seen some "really good results," including in May.

The unit's staffing includes social support workers, nurses and a psychiatrist — with connections to wraparound services.

Kotyk said before the round-the-clock hours they were averaging two first responder drop-offs per month. This spring that's grown to approximately 50 drop-offs and roughly 100 referrals from hospital emergency departments.

"Now that we're able to keep individuals, hold on to them for a longer period of time, it's really opened up that opportunity to send people [to the crisis centre]," said Kotyk.

She says even though more attention is given to local opioid addiction cases — of which they see many — alcohol dependency continues to be the largest substance abuse problem in the community.

Others are coming to their front door experiencing psychosocial situational crises, added Kotyk.

"They're looking for housing … some of them are dealing with depression, anxiety and things like that," she said. "We're seeing everything across the spectrum from your mild to your more moderate to severe presentations."

The centre treats voluntary patients, however, one caveat includes involuntary clients deemed incapable by a physician who require a Form 47 — that's an Ontario Ministry of Health provision that allows for mandated supervised treatment.

According to Kotyk, the extended service and additional people using the centre have been spread out throughout the day so far.

"It's not clustered. We're not seeing more people showing up at night because now we're open at night."

She says prior to the expansion, they were seeing around 140 people a month and that's jumped closer to 230 now. 

"I think it's just getting people aware that you don't have to go wait in an emergency department if you have a mental health crisis or you're looking for support for your addiction needs, that there's an alternative place to go."

The unit is currently funded through HDGH's existing budget, but they have put in a request to the province for future funding. 

Windsor police encouraged

The Windsor Police Service says it's "encouraged" by the expanded services.

The force highlighted 12 admissions to the centre from their officers in May.

"All of these programs help our officers get back on the road more quickly to respond to urgent calls, while still ensuring that people in crisis receive the care and support they need," the police service said in a statement.

"We are grateful for our partnerships with health and human services providers across the community, and look forward to seeing continued positive results."

In a statement, Essex-Windsor EMS said its paramedics had brought 29 patients to the unit since the hours increased. 

"That is more than we could have delivered there without the extended hours. Those are also 29 patients who got the right care at the right place at the right time," Chief Justin Lammers said in a statement.

"We continue to work with Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Windsor Regional Hospital to find innovative ways to reduce pressures on emergency departments and reduce ambulance offload delays."

Ahead of the expansion, Windsor police Chief Jason Bellaire said he felt it would make a big impact.

"Being able to bring somebody who has agreed, in a moment of clarity to say, 'I would like to enter withdrawal management' or 'I'd like some certain services,' to have the ability to transport that person to this centre here," Bellaire said, "and they immediately start to receive care."