CMHA North Bay and District relocation plan aims to make access easier for clients

The relocation has been planned over the last four years since four social agencies -- Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services, People for Equal Partnership, the North Bay Recovery Home and CMHA Nipissing -- joined together to form CMHA North Bay and District. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The Canadian Mental Health Association North Bay and District (CMHA) is streamlining access to its mental health and addiction care programs through a major relocation project.

Adopting what the CMHA describes as a “campus model,” the goal is to improve the ability to access mental health and addiction treatment along the Main Street West location.

“Clients can come in off the street and have easy access to our services,” said CEO Mary Davis.

The relocation has been planned over the last four years since four social agencies -- Nipissing Mental Health Housing & Support Services, People for Equal Partnership, the North Bay Recovery Home and CMHA Nipissing -- joined together to form CMHA North Bay and District.

A 7,800-square-foot building on Main Street West will be the new hub for mental health and addiction care. The building was the site of a department store for decades and, more recently, a spa and salon.

“We do have a waitlist and that's something we are trying to work on,” Davis said.

“We do believe this will be helpful.”

This relocation starts Monday. The CMHA’s newly named Peer Connections drop-in centre moves from its current spot on Ferguson Street into the hub building. Operating hours will remain Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with entry via a side entrance on Fraser Street. Formal appointments can be made through the front door at reception.

Peer Connections offers various activities, groups and programs, both in person and virtually for clients.

Jason Corbett, CMHA North Bay and District director of operations, took CTV News on a tour of the new site Thursday morning.

“This will have all kinds of tables and chairs in this large space for when they play cards or they're doing, you know, different crafts and that kind of stuff,” Corbett said, pointing into a large empty room.

Second phase

The second phase will take place in mid-April. It will see CMHA’s main reception and all client meeting spaces for case management, trusteeship, and justice services moved down the street from its second-floor location at 176 Main St. West to the hub.

The new space includes group rooms, laundry and shower facilities, two kitchens, office space, a community room and individual meeting spaces for clients and staff.

“So if we’re doing financial planning with them, then we can show them the same screen,” Corbett said, showing off one of the one-on-one rooms.

CMHA North Bay and District is currently seeing between 150-200 client referrals a month from the community. That is why Davis the centralization is needed.

“For someone to be able to access services and navigate the system, it's much easier to have one door, one point of access for an individual,” she said.

The goal, CMHA said, is to make mental health and addiction services more accessible for those who require that support.

Davis said once the facility is fully up and running, CMHA will invite the community to an open house during Mental Health Week in May.

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