New safe sobering beds are coming to Thunder Bay.
St. Joseph’s Care Group is receiving over $2.9 million to bring 15 of the beds to their facility.
The hospital aims to provide people with culturally appropriate and trauma-informed addiction treatment, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and calls to city police.
“With this investment, we’re ensuring communities like Thunder Bay have access to culturally appropriate mental health and addictions supports,” said Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Michael Tibollo. “Our government will continue making significant investments in Northern Ontario to fill critical gaps in care and ensure people have access to safe and effective mental health and addictions services, when and where they need them.”
Safe sobering beds are a voluntary service that provides a safe place for people under the influence of substances, for up to 24 hours.
While there, patients can connect to other community resources, health care, and treatment supports, including withdrawal management services and a Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine clinic.
The new beds are part of the province’s focus as some safe consumption sites close including the one in Thunder Bay.
Starting in 2025 a Youth Wellness Hub is also coming to the city.
The hub is seen as a prevented measure, and an avenue for youth education.
The hub will connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families to free mental health, substance use, primary care, Indigenous healing and well-being services in a safe, youth-friendly space.
The new beds, the hub, and the new mobile crisis response team are a part of the province’s plan to support mental health and addiction care in the city.