KDH and CMHLG announce Mental Health Walk-In Clinic for Children and Youth in North Grenville

Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) and Children’s Mental Health of Leeds and Grenville (CMHLG) are pleased to announce a new mental health walk-in clinic for children and youth in North Grenville.

Housed at CMHLG’s Kemptville office at 3-5 Clothier Street, the walk-in clinic is the first new service introduced by the 20-partner collaborative formed to create the Mental Health and Addictions Health Hub for Children and Youth in North Grenville that was initiated by KDH in early 2018, with CMHLG as the lead agency.

The new walk-in clinic is for children and youth 18 and under who are looking to work towards a solution to a problem or concern. Their families are welcome. The clinic offers each child and youth an appointment with a counsellor to focus on behavioural, emotional and/or mental health concerns in a collaborative, strength-based process.

As the name implies, no appointment or doctor’s referral is necessary. The clinic is offered every Wednesday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. If additional services, such as a referral to a psychologist, are required, CMHLG will facilitate that.

For youth over the age of 18, Rapid Access Counselling is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm through Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health at their Brockville office; please call ahead for satellite offices, 1-800-361-6948.

Having a walk-in clinic in Kemptville enables children and youth in North Grenville to access mental health and addictions services close to home, explained Lorena Crosbie, Executive Director of CMHLG. “Our primary goal is to make services more accessible for youth and their families experiencing mental health and/or addictions issues,” she said. Adding the walk in clinic means that North Grenville children and youth are able to meet with a counsellor without an appointment. The walk in clinic is an expansion of the services already being provided in North Grenville.”

Work on the Hub initiative began in early 2018 when KDH received funding from the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)’s Small Hospital Transformation Fund to help develop a Mental Health and Addictions Health Hub for children and youth in North Grenville. Soon, there were more than 20 community partners committed to helping develop the Hub.

KDH’s CEO Frank J. Vassallo commented on the timing of the opening of the new clinic. “While development of the Hub model is continuing, services will be rolled out as they become available,” he said. “If we can offer a much-needed service to our children and youth now, we are going to do it, rather than wait until the Hub is fully formed and realized.”

“The Hub remains very closely aligned with KDH’s strategic direction to help make care seamless for patients and families,” Vassallo observed. “In addition to improving access to services with the Hub, we are looking at ways to improve coordination of care and transitions between providers, such as hospitals like the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, as well as family doctors, and health and social service agencies.”

“Moreover, the Hub could potentially be embedded within the services an Ontario Health Team (OHT) would provide,” Vassallo added, noting that OHTs are being established by the provincial government to better connect healthcare providers and services around patients and families.

For more information about the walk-in clinic please call CMHLG at 613-498-4844 or 1-800-809-2494.

About Children’s Mental Health of Leeds & Grenville

Children’s Mental Health of Leeds & Grenville (CMHLG) is dedicated to serving the mental health needs of children, youth and their families. No professional referral is required. Children 12 and over may self-refer. Our programs and services are free, accessible, and confidential. We are an Accredited Children’s Mental Health Organization and the Lead Agency responsible for ensuring the Ontario Moving on Mental Health Strategy is effectively implemented across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville. Our Collective Core Purpose is to provide mental health resources and support for children, youth and families to build their own resiliency and become empowered and healthy.

For further information contact:

Lorena Crosbie, Executive Director

T: 613 498 4844 ext. 3021

lcrosbie@cmhlg.ca

About Kemptville District Hospital

Kemptville District Hospital is Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest ranking bestowed by Accreditation Canada. Committed to building healthier communities, we are a model of hospital-led integrated health services within the provincial health system. Kemptville District Hospital consistently ranks among the top hospitals in Ontario for both patient and employee satisfaction. We pride ourselves on being a good partner within the system. Kemptville District Hospital provides primary care management services, acute care hospital services, and advanced orthopaedic care.

For further information contact:

Jenny Read, Communications Officer

T: 613.258.6133 extension 223

Email: jread@kdh.on.ca