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CMHAMPS also offers walk-in services in Bracebridge every Wednesday from 12-8pm at their office at 173 Manitoba Street.

These walk-in clinics offer a much-needed service within our communities, as the demand for mental health services continues to rise.

No appointment or referral is needed and services are free. 

For more information, call 705-789-8891 or visit their website at www.cmhamps.ca

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The opening marks a significant milestone in CMHA’s commitment to providing the community with increased access to mental health and addiction services. The community was invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of CMHA’s new office at 1100A Muskoka Rd in Gravenhurst from 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 17. Local dignitaries, CMHA staff and community members attended the opening. CMHA offered light refreshments and facility tours.

“We’re excited to open our new Gravenhurst office and extend our reach within the community,” said Diane Brown-Demarco, executive director for CMHA Muskoka-Parry Sound. “This new location will enable us to provide essential mental health and addiction services to more people, closer to where they live.”

The Gravenhurst location will open its doors to the public on Monday, Oct. 21. The centre will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The new office reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding access to mental health and addiction services across the region. By being more present in this community, we can deliver timely, client-centred care to those who need it most,” said Joan Edwards Karmazyn, board chair for CMHA Muskoka-Parry Sound. “We are proud to be a part of this important step forward in delivering essential services to our neighbours in Gravenhurst.”

The new office will provide crucial mental health services, including counselling, crisis intervention, addiction support and outreach programs, bringing support closer to home for the Gravenhurst community.

“On behalf of the government, I am thrilled to see CMHA Muskoka-Parry Sound expanding its services with the opening of this new office in Gravenhurst,” said Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound – Muskoka “This vital addition to the community will provide much-needed access to mental health and addiction services, supporting the well-being of residents across the region.”

CMHA is dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health and addiction services that promote the well-being of individuals and the community. Its programs and services are designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients, fostering resilience and recovery.

“Access to local mental health and addiction services is crucial for the well-being of our residents,” said Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz. “This office will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many. We are proud to welcome CMHA to our community.”

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The February event has participants taking on 2,000 push-ups to represent the 20% of Canadians who will suffer from mental illness in any given year. The event begins on February 1^st and runs for 23 days.

Canadians from all ages and walks of life will participate in the event which engages people in mental health through connection, physical activity, and education.

“The Push-Up Challenge is a great way for Canadians to do something positive for their mental and physical health, while supporting those who experience mental illness each year,” says Margaret Eaton, National CEO, CMHA.

“Everyone has mental health and it’s likely we all will experience a mental health issue at some point in our lives. By pushing up and learning about mental health, we hope to break down the stigma attached to mental illness so that Canadians don’t think twice about reaching out for help.”

The Push-Up Challenge is a free event, and fundraising is optional. Participants can choose to fundraise and support the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Winter is a difficult time of year for many people and their mental health. A combination of seasonal stressors and dark, cold days can amplify feelings of “the winter blues”, or worse conditions. In fact, February is one of the most challenging months for individuals living with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a clinical condition impacting 2-3% of people living in Canada.

Although SAD impacts a small percentage of Canadians, “the winter blues,” on the other hand, are more common than you think. Around 60% of people living in Canada report experiencing symptoms of sadness or unhappiness related to the dark, cold weather. Fortunately, there’s a way to combat “the winter blues” that’s within everyone’s reach: just get your body moving!

By participating in The Push-Up Challenge, participants of all ages and abilities will push-up to promote their mental well-being while learning about mental health, with the number of daily push-ups changing to reflect a vital mental health fact. Alternatives to push-ups are also encouraged, such as sit-ups, squats, or other alternative exercises. Progress can be logged and tracked through a dedicated app which also allows you to easily fundraise and see how your mates are going with the event.

The Push-Up Challenge has been taking place in Australia for the past 7 years, with over 500,000 participants completing 900 million push-ups and raising over $36 million for mental health. 2024 marks the first time the event will take place Canada, run by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

You can register for The Push-Up Challenge as an individual, a team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym, or school involved at www.thepushupchallenge.ca.

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The proposed CTS site will provide a safe, hygienic location where people can use illicit substances with the supervision of trained staff, reducing health risks such as overdose and infections. It will also connect people who use drugs to other health and social services that they may want but have difficulty accessing, including mental health and addictions treatment, primary care, and housing.

“We are pleased that Health Canada has granted this exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to operate a consumption and treatment service site in Barrie,” said Dr. Valerie Grdisa, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Mental Health Association, Simcoe County Branch. “This is a significant milestone in addressing the devastating impacts of the opioid crisis affecting our community.”

Although the Health Canada exemption is a critical step in establishing a CTS in Barrie, CMHA SCB continues to await approval from the Ministry of Health on an application submitted to the province in October 2021, including confirmation of funding.

At the same time, CMHA SCB has collaborated with community partners to establish other new Ministry-funded programs to support individuals who use drugs, including the Mobile Withdrawal Management Services, Opioid Outreach Services and six new safe beds, planned to open in winter. 2023.

There continues to be an urgent need to mitigate the harms from the unregulated drug supply that has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic (March 2020- March 2022) there have been 323 opioid-related deaths in Simcoe Muskoka. This is more than 75 per cent higher than the 182 opioid-related deaths in the 25 months prior to the start of the pandemic (February 2018 – February 2020). These statistics reflect the loss of valued community members who may have benefited from the compassionate, evidence-based health and social support of a CTS in their community.

“We look forward to working with all our community partners and the local residents to establish this essential, life-saving program once we receive confirmation of funding from the Ontario Minister of Health,” said Dr. Grdisa.

CMHA SCB, in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and other partner agencies, remains committed to providing opportunities for community education and engagement with residents and businesses within proximity to the site. If the provincial application is approved, a CTS advisory committee will be convened to continue this neighbourhood engagement.

For more information on CTS, including the local application history and past work of the Site Selection Advisory Committee, visit www.smdhu.org/CTS.

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