Children’s Mental Health of Leeds and Grenville (CMHLG) wants the community to know that they are there to help. Executive Director, Lorena Crosbie, says that, once the pandemic was declared in March, the organization quickly moved to virtual or tele sessions. The ability to hold virtual sessions was already in the works for the organisation, so the pandemic just expedited the process. “Virtual provides another way for families to access our services,” Lorena says.
Because they were deemed an essential service, CMHLG never stopped offering in-person sessions at their five community offices. This meant they had to move quickly to implement appropriate physical distancing and cleaning practices to ensure the safety of their clients and staff. “We have been working closely with the Ministry of Health regulations and the local health unit,” Lorena says.
With Ontario now in phase two of reopening, CMHLG is even more equipped to offer in-person services at their centres. Before the pandemic, CMHLG offered walk-in appointments every Wednesday from 11am to 7pm at their Brockville and Kemptville offices. Because of COVID-19, they cannot accept walk-ins at this point, but same day appointments are available if clients call in advance. This is so that they can conduct some COVID-19 screening over the phone, and to ensure they don’t have too many people in the office at once.
CMHLG’s mission is to provide effective and timely mental health services to children and their families in Leeds and Grenville. They work with children up to the age of 18 and their families, and can address anything from serious mental health issues, to family problems and stressors.
Lorena wants people to know that it is still very easy to access their services, despite CO- VID-19. She says it is very important to them to provide services in a way that addresses their client’s needs, and makes them feel safe and comfortable. “Call, talk about what is happening, and a councillor will help identify what the next step is,” she says.
More about the services they offer can be found on their website: www.cmhlg.ca. To book an appointment, or talk to a counsellor, call them from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm at 1-800-809-2492.
