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Mental health and addictions services see increased demand due to pandemic

Two people, one appearing older, hold hands.
A recent annual report from CMHA Waterloo-Wellington shows mental health issues are prevalent as ever after the pandemic. Photo by Canva.
Riley Gillespie-Wilson - CICW - Fergus • ON | 10-07-2023
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Numbers have drastically shot up for a local mental health support since the onset of the pandemic.

Demand for care has been increasingly high in recent years, according to CMHA Waterloo-Wellington’s annual report.

CEO Helen Fishburn says this is the new norm: she doesn't expect to see numbers as low as before the pandemic again. Fishburn says this spike was universal, and covered all sectors.

"We've seen about a 40 per cent increase in our Here 24/7 support line volumes, our early psychosis intervention program, we are 300 per cent over the funded targets that we are funded for. Our eating disorders program, again we've seen over 100 per cent increase throughout the course of the pandemic," Fishburn stated.

"96 per cent increase in our child psychiatry referrals," she added.

While the pandemic was hard on the whole population, Fishburn is of the mindset that it affected each individual uniquely.

"We've all been in the same storm but we haven't experienced it in the same way. So, if you have been marginalized before the storm or during the storm you're going to be harder hit," Fishburn explained.

"People who had a significant mental health or addictions issue prior to the pandemic, the impact of isolation and not being able to access the kind of support and care they need is a huge impact," she concluded.

Fishburn says a 5 per cent base budget increase, pending ministry confirmation, will allow CMHA Waterloo-Wellington to better function and pay staff higher wages.

Hoping to help during uncertain times, Fishburn and her group are excited for the debut of the Children and Youth Services Building, set to open in Guelph in early October.

The building will be staffed with over 100 child psychiatry workers, nurses, social workers and other support staff, hoping to help over 9,000 youth a year.

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