Mental health support now more accessible with online services

Much has been said about the toll the pandemic is taking on people’s mental health so it’s good news that accessing support may have actually gotten easier for Clearview residents in the past few months.
Simcoe Peer Support (SPS) has been around since 1994, helping those struggling with mental health and addiction issues to connect with community resources. Executive Director Shawna Johnson says in the past, the drop in centre in Collingwood was the first point of contact for many new members.
Since last March, all programs have been offered virtually. Whereas transportation might have been a barrier for people outside more populous areas such as Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, now anyone with an internet connection can easily access support.
SPS serves a huge area of North Simcoe and Muskoka, including members from Creemore and Stayner.
Johnson says they typically have contact with 20-40 people per day via Facebook and Zoom, plus another 20 or so in-person visits at the centre. There are three full-time staff, all of whom have lived experience. When staff are not available, members are encouraged to interact directly with one another. No doctor or psychiatrist referral is needed. Johnson says people in need are encouraged to contact the centre, and if SPS is not the right resource, they will be connected to other resources in the community.
The mandate of the not-for-profit SPS is to promote wellness and recovery through peer support, advocacy and self-help. The group helps members develop crisis plans with the goal of decreasing the need for doctor and emergency room visits and reducing hospital stays for mental health and addiction issues. February’s events calendar shows a range of activities from a walking group, yoga mornings and arts and crafts all the way to a weekly meeting of the concurrent disorder group. Johnson says all SPS programs are continuing to run during the pandemic, just in a different way. While many members report missing in-person contacts, for people dealing with anxiety and depression connecting remotely is better than not connecting at all.
The first step for anyone seeking help from Simcoe Peer Support is an initial conversation about who you are and what you are dealing with. Johnson says they understand that taking that first step can be overwhelming, so they are focused on keeping the process easy. Find them online at www.mentalhealthandaddictions.com, on Facebook at Simcoe Peer Support, or call 705-444-1844.