Recognizing Mental Health Week (May 3-9, 2021)
With COVID-19 becoming a sustained crisis, the emotional long-haul of the pandemic is taking a toll on individual’s mental health. From healthcare workers, to patients, caregivers, families, and those in the community, many are struggling with mental and psychosocial well-being.
“As we navigate the current and post-COVID world, rebuilding mental health by increasing access and availability of services is critical,” said Dr. Peter Bieling, Vice President of the Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) at St. Joe’s.
Last month, the Canadian Mental Health Association released a survey that reported Ontarians are experiencing worsening mental health compared with the second wave. The survey also indicated that almost half of Ontarians believe that COVID-19 has played a major role in their declining mental health.
Dr. Bieling says St. Joe’s is experiencing these trends firsthand, particularly in the last few months. He explains that St. Joe’s Emergency Mental Health Care experienced its highest volume in March – approximately an 8.6 per cent increase between from January 2020 and March 2021. The MHAP program also had the most outpatient referrals to date — more than 1200 —many of which are urgent or high risk.
“Previously only five per cent of the outpatient referrals were deemed urgent or high risk. Now they’re a substantial percentage, as high as 40 per cent in the last month,” said Dr. Bieling.
To meet the growing demand for mental health services and support post-pandemic rebuilding, St. Joe’s is redeveloping its Emergency Mental Health Care. The $7-million redevelopment includes an 8,000 square foot renovation, nearly doubling its current footprint.
Philanthropy is playing a significant role in the Emergency Mental Health Care redevelopment project, as St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation aims to work closely with the community to help raise funds to enable the construction project. Recently, an anonymous donor couple made a generous $500,000 donation to support the renewal of the hospital’s emergency mental health services.
“Before the pandemic, we were already treating a growing spectrum of mental illness and addiction. At any one time, our Emergency Mental Health Care team could be caring for someone battling an addiction in withdrawal, a senior with depression, and a youth experiencing a mental health issue for the first time,” said Dr. Bieling.
“The implications of long haul COVID continue to change the landscape so this redevelopment is needed now more than ever.”
The Emergency Mental Health Care redevelopment signifies important revitalization for the community, but significant policy change is needed to address mental health as Ontario rebuilds after the pandemic. That’s why St. Joe’s joined a number of other organizations in the Everything is not Okay Campaign. The campaign provides a united voice for many of Ontario’s leading mental health and addiction organizations to call for a fully funded mental health and addiction wait times strategy.
Now more than ever, we all recognize that mental well-being is essential to function and thrive during a sustained crisis. Mental Health Week (May 3-9, 2021) is an opportunity to check in with yourself, your family, friends and colleagues. For more information about mental health services and supports at St. Joe’s please visit: Mental Health and Wellness Resource Centre.
For more information on Mental Health Week and some mental health tips, visit www.stjoes.ca/MHW2021.