People in rural and remote areas in the greater Kawarthas region who are experiencing mental health and addictions issues now have access to a full range of supports with the launch of ‘The Road Ahead’, a mobile wellness clinic operating out of two vehicles.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) unveiled the new mobile wellness clinic at a media event on Thursday morning (February 16) in Lakefield.
The event was attended by community partners and local politicians including Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark.
While one of the clinic’s two vehicles had already been purchased with funding announced by the Ontario government as part of the province’s 2021 budget, CMHA HKPR determined s second vehicle was required to serve the rural communities across the region. Over the past year, the organization raised $300,000 to purchase the second vehicle.
“Thanks to the support of many donors including the Kinsmen Club, Peterborough Police Services, and Bell Canada, we have purchased the second vehicle,” said CMHA HKPR CEO Mark Graham.
The two vehicles offer mental health and addictions services to underserved communities by visiting rural areas across the city and county of Peterborough and County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County, where residents may otherwise have difficulty accessing these services because of challenges such as a lack of transportation.
The clinic provides counselling and therapy, support with addictions and substance use, mental health education, medication support, and access to other services such as psychiatry.
According to a media release, the branding design on the vehicles was developed with the support of Peterborough advertising company Outpost 379.
Chosen to be welcoming and positive, the design isn’t specific to mental health or addictions to avoid the stigmas still surrounding mental health and addictions, and the barriers these stigmas may pose for people needing support.
