As funding for withdrawal management services at Chatham-Kent’s hospital continues to roll in, clinical staff are expressing relief for those they treat.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Lambton Kent announced a $150,000 donation on Friday, for the construction of the 10-bed residential withdrawal management unit at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Clinical Supervisor Stephanie DeVito said the 10-bed unit will fill a significant void within the community. She said it has been very difficult in the past to tell those suffering from addiction that they have to wait for withdrawal management services in another community.
Previously, beds for withdrawal management treatment have only been available in other communities such as London, Windsor or Sarnia.
“It’s frustrating, it’s a lot of back and forth trying to get them a bed,” said DeVito. “I have stood with individuals motivated to make a change, who have taken one of the most difficult steps of reaching out for help, and I have to tell them that there is no bed, that transportation is an issue, or that they need to leave a community that they’re comfortable in to access services.”
CKHA began operating three interim withdrawal management beds in mid-March, which DeVito said has already had a big impact on the community.
“Already with our three interim beds we’ve already been able to facilitate admissions from our RAAM [Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine] Clinic, so it’s been amazing to not have to call other communities for beds,” she said.
Having worked at CKHA since 2013 in various social work and therapy roles, DeVito said she has been given a first-hand perspective of mental health and addictions within the community.
“I have been given the immense privilege of walking alongside individuals and families through some of the most difficult and vulnerable experiences in their lives,” she said. “Addiction does not discriminate and I know most of us have been touched by the despair addiction can create.”
The CMHA donation on Friday will be put towards the total cost of renovations for the withdrawal management unit, which is expected to be around $1.1 million. Much of the project has already been funded, with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent allocating $500,000 for the unit. Ontario’s Ministry of Health has also provided an additional $100,000 for startup costs, and the United Way of Chatham-Kent announced a donation of $155,000 last week.
The withdrawal management unit is expected to be fully operational with all 10 beds by June 30.
