black health – Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team

January 27 2023

Updates from the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre

Pictured above: SAPACCY Team including the 2 SWs, Director, Case Worker and Clinical Supervisor

Substance Abuse Program for African Caribbean and Black Canadian Youth (SAPACCY) program

The Substance Abuse Program for African Caribbean and Black Canadian Youth (SAPACCY) program provides community-based mental health and/or substance use services that are holistic, anti-oppressive, Africentric, and culturally safe for Black youth (ages 12-29) and their families/caregivers. The Program is one of 7 other locations in Ontario, including one location at CAMH. The Windsor-Essex program recently launched Open Houses in October 2022 at weCHC for Health Care Providers, Community Partners , Parents/ Caregivers and Youth.

Over 40 Community Organizations have come through the doors to show their support and learn more about how we can all work together in supporting the Black Community.

In celebration of Black History Month the SAPACCY team will be holding an event on February 21 at weCHC for youth, care partners, and caregivers from 4:30pm – 8:00pm. For more information on the event visit www.wechc.org.

For more information about SAPACCY: https://wechc.org/counselling-general/the-substance-abuse-program-for-african-and-caribbean-canadian-youth-sapaccy/

The Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Carribbean Youth. (SAPACCY)

*Pictured here: the October 2022 Open House for Community Partners*

Statistics on Black Mental Health in Canada

38.3% of Black Canadians with mental health issues used mental health services between 2001-2014 compared to 50.8% of White Canadians.
60% said they would be more willing to use mental health services if the mental health professional were Black.
95.1% felt that the underutilization of mental health services by Black Canadian residents was an issue that needed to be addressed.

Learn more on the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s website.

November 1 2022

weCHC programs

The Substance Abuse Program for African and Caribbean Canadian Youth (SAPACCY)

Teen Health location

This program, for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY) promotes improved mental wellness for young people who identify as African, Caribbean and/or Black. SAPACCY provides community-based mental health and/or substance use services that are holistic, anti-oppressive, Africentric, and culturally safe for Black youth (ages 12-29) and their families/caregivers.

Who is the service for?

Black youth ages 12-29 (and their family/caregivers) that are experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.

Services offered:

individual and group counselling and psychotherapy;
addictions and/or substance use supports;
comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and treatment planning;
mental health promotion and prevention;
intensive case management;
wraparound supports and referral services;
caregiver support groups;
trauma-informed and healing-centered interventions; and,
crisis intervention.

For more information please visit our website at www.wechc.org

Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorders Program

BANA and WECHC Teen Health

As of May 2022, a new Intensive Outpatient program for Eating Disorders is offered in Windsor-Essex. This program is offered in collaboration with Windsor Regional Hospital and Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA). The program offers a variety of groups and individual sessions and is designed to assist individuals aged 16 years and older with serious eating disorders. Interested individuals can access program information through a regional intake phone number, toll-free at 1-855-969-5530.

Southwestern Ontario Youth Gender Diversity Clinic

Teen Health location

In collaboration with Dr. Ian Johnson and Chatham Kent CHC, the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC) is happy to announce a new service for transgender children and youth in Windsor-Essex. Youth gender diversity clinics are held every Wednesday at our Teen Health location on Ouellette Avenue for youth up to 18 years old. Services include: Assessment & diagnosis of gender dysphoria, managing common comorbid mental health conditions, assessment of starting hormone blockers and affirming hormone therapy, prescribing of hormone or blockers and monitoring of treatment.

For referral information contact CKCHC Pediatric Affirmative Care Clinic at 519-397-5455 Ext. 164. In addition, please visit our website at www.wechc.org for more information about this program.

International Agricultural Workers

Leamington location

In Windsor-Essex, we are lucky to have the support of thousands of International Agri Workers (IAW). The CHC Greenhouse teams continue to provide health care work at multiple farms. Our 33 Princess location is also home to a Sunday walk-in clinic from 10-5. The WECHC is hard at work, providing vaccines, ongoing primary care as well as episodic care to our International Agri Workers in our community. Numerous Spanish speaking staff and “WeSpeak” enable us to provide the care needed in any language. Our Sunday walk in clinic supports anyone who is undocumented/without OHIP, who may not have another pathway to care.