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County, CMHA Waterloo Wellington set sights on improving mental health locally

CEO of CMHA Waterloo Wellington Helen Fishburn stands before Wellington County council with a presentation on a screen in a dim-lit council chamber.
Following up on a recent survey that deemed Wellington County the least mentally healthy area municipality, Helen Fishburn of CMHA Waterloo Wellington knows there's work to be done. Photo by Riley Gillespie-Wilson.
Riley Gillespie-Wilson - CICW - Fergus • ON | 27-10-2023
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Following a recent survey by CMHA Waterloo Wellington that dubbed Wellington County the least mentally healthy community in the region, the organization's CEO was before council Thursday.

CEO Helen Fishburn agreed with county councillors that there is much work to do. While not considered a “deep dive,” Fishburn told council the data was a "pulse reading" of local mental health.

“The time is now. “We can’t afford to wait,” Fishburn stated.

She added it's time to lean into an issue that has worsened since the pandemic. Fishburn said the local Grove Wellness Hubs have been crucial to helping youth with their mental health. She told council 109 youth visited the Palmerston hub alone on Wednesday for what she says is a range of services.

"Youth ages 12-26 literally flock to the grove. It's a place that they can get all of their needs met," FIshburn stated.

"They could get help writing a resume, they could get help if they're having conflict with a girlfriend or parent. They could get help with their career planning. They could get help because they're struggling with their mental health- with anxiety, depression, dark thoughts," she added.

Fishburn heard a slew of questions from council. One thing was clear from the meeting: this is an issue the county needs to address now, to aid those in need.

"Just for our community in general, there's a lot of people out there, just barely holding on. That's where I was using the analogy, sometimes it feels like a house of cards," Fishburn said.

"One card being pulled, one change to their life really results in a very significant crisis in the family," she explained.

The Here 24/7 service has seen 30 per cent more volume than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Fishburn says that is the new normal.

She explained she never expects the numbers to come back down to pre-pandemic figures. As of Thursday, there are 4,000 people in Guelph Wellington County and Waterloo region that are waiting for ongoing care, she says.

Workplaces were one of the main areas Fishburn believes could use improvement regarding mental health, as she and CMHAWW continue to trek through uncertain and difficult times.

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