New 'inventory' of mental health, addictions services launches in Windsor

There's help for mental health and addictions in the healthcare system but sometimes figuring out what's there, and where to get it, is part of the problem.

The Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy (WECOSS) and the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team launched a new mental healthand addictions service inventory on Wednesday, with the aim of helping people figure out what services are available to them.

The service calledWEC Connectis an online system made for thoseseeking help in the Windsor and Essex County region, as well as "community agencies and service providers so that they may refer to the most appropriate programs and services for their patients and clients," the health unit said in a statement.

The inventory includes 122 local, regional and national programs which allows people to easily access the most useful service based on theirservice area, type of service, mode of delivery, and cost of service. The goal, health officials said, is to help people navigate the available services so that the system doesn't become a barrier to getting help at all.

"Through prioritizing, coordination, and collaboration we can ensure that members of the Windsor-Essex community receivethe comprehensive care they deserve," said Tammy Kotyk, vice-president of mental health and addictions at Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.