Walk-in addiction clinics in Winnipeg strengthened with new funding: province

Manitoba is responding to the growing needfor mental health services during the pandemic by improving two walk-in clinics in Winnipeg, the provincial government announced onMonday.

The province is bolstering staffing and other resources at two walk-in locations, known as rapid access to addictions medicineor RAAM clinics, with an $819,000 commitment, Mental Health Minister Audrey Gordon said.

She expects 400 more patients to behelped annually as a result.

The demand for these services haveonly heightened in the pandemic, and that need ismore pronounced in Winnipeg, Gordon said.

"We know some Manitobans have increased their substance use as a way to cope with the effects of stress and anxiety related to the COVID-19pandemic," she said.

The number of substance-related deaths in Manitoba hit 372 in 2020, an increase of 182 deaths from the year before.

Hours may be altered

Gordon said the new funding will add a navigator, providephysician support and may perhaps alter the hours of these clinics.

The clinics offerwalk-in patients access to intervention and community treatment programs. Typically staffed by anaddictions physician and a combination of clinicians, counsellors and outreach workers, patients will be referred to other health professionalsif warranted.

Critics have called for the operating hours at RAAM clinics to be expanded.

The clinic at theCrisis Response Centreruns for two hours a day, three days a week. The other Winnipeg location, at River Point Centre, operates for the same number of hours but for two days a week.

"The moment a Manitoban struggling with addictions makes the decision to seek help, they need immediate access to supports in order to make a change. That moment doesn't necessarily happen on the weekdays, during business hours, and if supports miss that window its more likely a person will fall back into the cycle of addiction," NDP mental health and addictions criticBernadetteSmith said in a statement.

Dr.Erin Knight, medical co-lead of the walk-in clinics, said the locations provide Manitobans withsame-day care, or in general, shortly thereafter.

"That's a change in our system, where previously people had to often book an appointment that was several weeks in advance to be able to access care," Knight told the news conference.

"We've heardover and over again from clients and from family members that that ability to just walk in and access care when people are ready has really improved the ability to get engaged in care."

The province also runsRAAM clinicsin Brandon, Selkirk, Thompson and Portage la Prairie.

No discussion with church leadership: Gordon

Meanwhile, Gordon faced questions for the first time Monday onSprings Church, which received backlash for holding an indoor maskless graduation eventthis month while indoorgatherings were stillbanned. She confirmed Mondayshe remains a member of the church.

She said she has not spoken to church leadership following her written statement in which she expressed disappointment at the churchfor holding the event. Gordon said she didn't want to interfere while an investigationwas underway.

As of last week, the province has not issued tickets to Springs Church, but officials continue to investigate. An update on enforcement penalties for flouting pandemic health orders is expected to beissued on Tuesday.