Since 2016, HSN saw a 23% increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits related to mental health and addictions
Mental Health Fund
Mental Health Fund
An important mandate of Health Sciences North (HSN) is caring for those who suffer from mental health and addictions. Invisible to some but to those experiencing it, their reality is no different than someone suffering from a medical condition like heart disease or diabetes. Many will suffer in silence, unaware that helpful treatments are available.
The Mental Health and Addictions Program at HSN delivers community and hospital-based mental health and addictions services across the Sudbury, Manitoulin and East Algoma districts. Dedicated staff provide a range of services including assessment, treatment, support and consultation. The goal is to ensure clients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
Your donation to the Mental Health Fund can help provide essential support and equipment to improve the quality of care for patients, and help advance our programs to better fit the growing needs of our region.
In the ED, we are seeing an increase in admission rates to hospital for the following mental health and addictions diagnoses, particularly:
- 126% increase in alcohol use disorders
- 40% increase in substance use disorders
- 60% increase due to stress related and neurotic disorders
Our children and youth are also experiencing higher incidences of mental health concerns and there has been a 45% increase in child and youth mental health ED visits since 2016.
The rates of opioid-related deaths in our community increased by 193% since 2018, more than 3 times the province (60%), and 38% higher than Northern Ontario (138%)
Admissions to hospital have also increased with 40% of ED mental health visits last year requiring admission to our Acute Inpatient Psychiatry unit. This is up from 29% in 2015
Community based programming sees over 14,000 mental health and addictions outpatient visits per year
One of the services offered through HSN’s Mental Health and Addictions Program is a 20-bed Addictions Medicine Unit (AMU). The first of its kind in Canada, the AMU helps patients who are admitted to hospital for medical reasons and who also suffer from a substance use issue. It lets patients complete their medical stay while providing addictions support up to discharge and helping them make connections in the community for further support. Since its opening in 2021, over 1,500 individuals have been helped by this service.
One of the unique features of the unit is it incorporates people with lived experiences in its approach. Patients are included in the frontline care team to ensure the patient voice is heard and supported.
Jada was a former patient on the AMU and she understands the value of having quality mental health and addictions services in our community after her own battle with drug addiction and homelessness. After receiving care in the AMU, Jada now uses her experience and learnings to help others in similar situations as her own.
Hear Jada’s story and her mission to empower mental health and addictions care.