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Ontario Connecting People in Thunder Bay to Addictions Support

Press Release

September 19, 2024

Thunder Bay — The Ontario government is investing over $2.9 million in 15 safe sobering beds in Thunder Bay, making it easier for people under the influence of substances to access a safe place to sleep and get the care they need. This funding will be provided to St. Joseph’s Care Group to provide people with culturally appropriate and trauma informed addictions treatment in their community, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and police involvement.

“With this investment, we’re ensuring communities like Thunder Bay have access to culturally appropriate mental health and addictions supports,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government will continue making significant investments in Northern Ontario to fill critical gaps in care and ensure people have access to safe and effective mental health and addictions services, when and where they need them.”

Safe sobering beds are a voluntary service that provides a safe place for individuals under the influence of substances, such as drugs or alcohol, for up to 24 hours. While there, individuals are able to connect to other community resources and health care and treatment supports including withdrawal management services and a Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine clinic (RAAM).

These new safe sobering beds are one of the many investments the Ontario government has made to connect people in Thunder Bay to high quality, evidence-based mental health and addictions care, including:

  • Launching a new Youth Wellness Hub to serve Thunder Bay and surrounding areas. Beginning in 2025, the new hub will connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas to convenient and free mental health, substance use, primary care, Indigenous healing and well-being services in a safe, youth-friendly space.
  • Investing over $2.4 million annually over three years through the Addictions Recovery Fund to add 34 new addictions treatment beds in Thunder Bay to connect more people to addictions treatment supports.
  • Launching a new, paramedic-led mobile crisis response team to make it easier and more convenient for people experiencing homelessness and/or mental health and addictions crises to get the support they need, without involving police.

“Our government is continuing to build more connected and convenient mental health and addictions services in communities across the province,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to expand safer sober beds will ensure people in Thunder Bay can connect to the mental health care and support services they need, when they need it, closer to home.”

Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is making it easier and faster for people of all ages to connect to the care they need, where and when they need it. This includes getting shovels in the ground for over 50 hospital developments across the province that will add an additional 3,000 new hospital beds over the next 10 years.

Quick Facts

  • The sobering centre will be in close proximity to Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre with the ability to refer to medical care, community resources, food and shelter.
  • The safe sobering model of care was identified by a group of health, social and Indigenous-led organizations including St. Joseph’s Care Group, Ontario Health North West, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay Police Service, Superior North Emergency Medical Services, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and Crossroads Centre in response to the recommendations from the November 2022 Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of two Indigenous men.
  • Through the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs.
  • As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs.

Quotes

“Our government continues to fulfill our commitment of making mental health and addictions a priority. Safe sobering beds provide a much-needed service to people who need a safe place to sleep and can also help connect them with the appropriate services in their community that meet their needs. By investing in targeted addictions services, we are providing regional resources that are needed to keep our communities safe and support people with the help they need.”

– Kevin Holland
MPP, Thunder Bay—Atikokan

“Every journey for people living with addictions is different. It is important to offer a continuum of services that will now include a place to safely sober. On behalf of St. Joseph’s Care Group, thank you for choosing to make this investment in compassionate and safe care for our community.”

– Janine Black
President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group

“This is welcoming news and the investment for safe sobering is critical to our community. This additional support brings valuable infrastructure and opportunities with partners for better care delivery to address key service gaps for people dealing with addiction challenges. We look forward to the partnerships that will improve access to services and delivery of respectful, trauma-informed, and compassionate care for individuals in need.”

– Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott
President & CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Additional Resources

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Media Contacts

Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Hannah.R.Jensen@ontario.ca

Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197

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