A local youth support agency is attempting to fill the gaps after its mental health crisis program was forced to shut down due to a lack of funding.
Linck Child, Youth and Family Supports has announced that it has been unable to secure funding to sustain its crisis programming at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA).
“We are incredibly disappointed to close our hospital crisis program, as we know it has been a crucial part of our system of supports over the past 10 years,” said Carol Moore, Linck’s director of mental health, development and quality, in a news release.
Over the past 10 years, Linck has provided assessment services to youth under the age of 16 who attended CKHA’s Emergency Department experiencing a mental health crisis. Linck would also coordinate community support, refer youth to in-patient services in Windsor where needed, and follow them in the community for an average of three weeks post-crisis.
However, due to stagnant funding, increased volumes, and inflationary pressures, Linck said the program is no longer viable.
The agency is currently working with CKHA to transition services back to the hospital.
Despite the change, Caen Suni, CKHA’s Vice President of Clinical Programs and Operations, said crisis care will remain in place through the hospital. He said it’s important to maintain that continuity of care in the community.
“There is a significant need. We work with local providers for youth and mental health, we work with provides outside of the region, especially for [youth] patients that might need a bed for their mental health needs,” said Suni. “So we’re going to be that junction point.”
As well, Linck said it will continue to provide crisis support in the community with a reduced capacity through a new intensive community-based/in-home intensive outreach program.
The Intensive Outreach team supports children and youth who are identified or diagnosed with mental health problems that significantly impair their ability to function in school, at home and in the community. Services provided include assessments, counselling and therapy, service coordination, individual planning and goal setting, as well as education and skill building.
“Building on evidence-informed approaches from across the province we are proud to have designed a program with our community partners that will meet a significant need in Chatham-Kent,” said Linck Executive Director Teri-Thomas-Vanos. “We have experienced an unprecedented need for intensive services in the past 3 years, and this program will support families, with an aim of preventing family breakdown”.
In the past five years, Linck has noted an 80 per cent increase in the number of youth attending the hospital for mental health support.