The health, safety and well-being of Huron County’s 60,000 citizens are the focus of a new task force that introduced the first phase of a four-phase plan to identify and address the threat factors facing Americans in this largely rural area. region.
“Because police can’t do it all,” said Michaela Johnston, a member of the Huron County Community Safety and Wellness Task Force.
The first phase focuses on intellectual fitness and addictions. Huron County saw a steady 26 percent increase in intellectual fitness calls from frontline officials between 2020 and 2021.
“Eating disorders have increased. Substance abuse has increased. Anxiety has increased. I’m seeing more and more young people and younger people suffering from intellectual illness,” said Lynn Higgs, head of intellectual fitness at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich.
According to local experts, the dramatic increase in the cost of living is exacerbating the problem.
“Sometimes the solution between paying off your loan and paying your bills is a struggle. We’re seeing a significant increase in the number of people coming forward,” says Catherine Hardman, executive director of the Canadian Huron Mental Health Association. Perth.
Members of Huron County’s Community Safety and Well-Being plan discussed the four priorities they will be working on this year on Jan. 19, 2024. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
Changes to Ontario’s Police Services Act mandated each municipality in the province to come up with a Community Safety and Well-Being plan by 2021.
The nine municipalities of Huron County have joined forces on 4 priorities:
“We want to start taking care of others again. We want to rebuild our communities and care for each other. We’ve lost that. People are more isolated and lonely,” Hardman said.
The first poster for the Huron County-Source-Huron County Community Safety and Wellness Plan. (Source: Huron County)
Co-ordinated messaging providing the services, both locally and nationally, to get mental health and addictions help will be coming to Huron County social media feeds this month. The final three priorities will have similar co-ordinated messaging and responses throughout the year now that the Community Safety and Well-Being Working Group is up and running.
“This kind of crusade brings us all together to look at the intersections between our programs,” said Dana Bozzatto, director of the Huron-Perth Center, which provides intellectual aptitude to Huron County youth.
“We’re looking to break down the stigma and barriers that prevent other people from getting help and achieving results,” said Rodney Phillips, director of outpatient intellectual fitness at Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance.
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