Making mental health a priority

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene, Ontario, has adapted services to ensure mental health needs are prioritized and services are accessibleSUPPLIED

Remarkable efforts have been made on the part of health-care workers, caregivers and people across the country to help one another throughout the pandemic. Recognizing the added psychological burden of COVID-19, in Penetanguishene, Ontario, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care’s clinical and research teams have dedicated countless hours to adapting services to ensure mental health needs are prioritized and services are accessible and adaptable, with a particular focus on seniors, youth and frontline workers.

Adapting to the new realities of the pandemic saw the hospital and the Waypoint Research Institute retooling services, providing online supports to build resiliency skills and reduce burnout, increasing connection, assessing the impact of the pandemic and increasing frontline/staff wellness and psychological supports.

The hospital also opened a new Family, Child and Youth Mental Health Service in the community; welcomed two new physicians dedicated to children and youth, Dr. Peter Braunberger and Dr. Joe Oliver; and are now offering an urgent care clinic and on-call support service. As the new Research Chair in Forensic Mental Health Science, Dr. Nathan Kolla is leading enhancements in this important area of mental health care.

The steadfast dedication of staff, donors, volunteers, families, patients and community partners made it possible for Waypoint to rise to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about Waypoint’s COVID-19 Mental Health Relief Fund, visit waypointcentre.ca

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