To the Sandy Hill Community:
We regret to advise you that due to a recent health and safety issue that has occurred at our CTS, we must unfortunately suspend supervised injection services for the foreseeable future while we investigate next steps.
The health and safety of our clients, staff members and neighbours has always been and will always be our top priority.
This was not an easy decision. We are doing our best to minimize disruption. The following Oasis / Consumption and Treatment Site services remain open:
· The drop-in
· The medical clinic
· Outreach
· Distribution of harm reduction equipment
· Drug checking
All other Centre programs and services remain open and are not impacted.
We are acutely aware of the impact this situation will have on clients and our community, and are exploring options to redeploy staff to do outreach and engagement in the neighbourhood and overdose response outside.
We will provide updates on next steps as quickly as they become available. Please direct any inquiries to info@sandyhillchc.on.ca
Thank you for your understanding,
Your team at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
Sandy Hill Community Centre is not a crisis centre. The following services are available 24/7.
Mental health support and resources, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Available 4pm – 12am ET
If you or if you have:
• hurt or harmed yourself or someone else,
• are feeling desperate and hopeless,
• are worried you might hurt yourself or someone else,
• are having thoughts of suicide, made a plan to harm yourself,
• the means to hurt yourself or someone else,
• attempted suicide or hurt yourself before.
Please get help immediately! Please do one of the following:
• call 911 immediately,
• go directly to the nearest Hospital Emergency Department.
When you call 911, tell them:
• exactly where you are calling from, how you are feeling,
• if you have done anything to harm yourself, if you are in an unsafe situation,
• keep talking to 911 while you wait for help to arrive.
Some reasons people have gone to the Emergency Room:
• they have injured themselves.
• they are seeing, hearing, smelling or feeling things that are bizarre and frightening and/or hearing voices • that tell them to do something dangerous.
• using excessive drugs or alcohol, or when coming down from drugs or alcohol.
• experiencing side effects from prescribed medication.
• having thoughts of hurting themselves or of suicide, with a plan to do it (or a history of attempts).
People working in the ER will provide support, problem-solving and help manage a crisis situation. Above all, they will work to keep you safe. All ER services are confidential and based on your needs. Whenever possible, the ER staff will try to avoid hospitalization and help refer you to where you will get the most help.
Waiting to Talk
The ER can be an overwhelming place. It is always best to have a supportive person that you are comfortable with, wants to help and understands your situation to go through this process with you. If you don’t have someone, or are not comfortable having someone, feel free to take notes or ask questions. While in the ER, you may experience a wait time, which can be distressing and frustrating. You’ll talk to a nurse at first and they will ask you questions about what brought you into the ER. Try to be honest and truthful regarding your symptoms and how long they have been going on.
Assessing Your Situation
Questions in the ER will focus on the crisis happening now. Physicians will ask about your mood, sleep patterns, appetite, psychiatric history, medications, substance use, family history, stressors/supports, past history and childhood factors. They will also need to know whether you’ve had thoughts of suicide, made attempts, or have had instances of hurting yourself or others. This is essential information to help them get all the information they need to make the best plan of care.
Creating a Plan of Care
After meeting with the physician, a plan of care will be set up for you. It lists the formal and informal strategies (worked out by you and the staff) to keep you safe and support your recovery.
Recognition of Territory
Sandy Hill CHC is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation have lived on this territory for millennia. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. Sandy Hill CHC honours the peoples and land of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation.