Mental health and addictions crisis centre records significant increase in demand

More people are seeking out mental health and addiction aid since Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) expanded access to its crisis centre, according to hospital officials.

Kevin Matte, the HDGH director of Crisis and Addiction Services, said the Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre has seen about 400 people open its doors for help each month.

Located steps away from the emergency department at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette campus, the centre expanded to 24/7 service in July 2025.

“So the need is there, especially when you’re talking about after-hours support,” Matte told reporters after a hospital board meeting on Wednesday.

Providing low-barrier access, the centre offers crisis assessments, crisis stabilization beds, urgent psychiatric assessments, and addiction supports.

Often, Matte noted, the ER might be the only option for people experiencing a mental health crisis, especially late at night.

“So before that, there was really nowhere to go for people looking for mental health support after hours, besides the emergency department, and now we’re seeing well over 100 people a month utilize that service,” Matte said of overnight supports.

Prior to the expanded hours, Matte said they might see only about 120 people in an entire month.

Most often, the centre is helping people who present with substance use concerns, mood disorders, or a psychosocial crisis.

Since January 2025, 385 people have been transitioned to withdrawal management.

“This is very helpful for people, and especially when, you know, it’s available all the time, right. Because if you’re having a mental health crisis, it doesn’t come at any certain point of the day; it can come at any time, and if you don’t get the help you need, it can get worse,” Matte added.

While officials noted an increase in use of the centre may not directly reduce the burden on emergency departments, it is believed to be aiding first responders.

According to Matte, the expansion has allowed the centre to offload about 250 first responders, who otherwise may have been unable to leave until an individual they’re transporting has received care.

“So that’s police and EMS that are now coming to us with no offload delays that they don’t they would have otherwise went to the emergency department and added to their load,” Matte said.

Moving forward, Matte added that they plan to continue evaluating the current level and use of services before deciding how to proceed.

The Ontario Ministry of Health has given HDGH 18 months to collect data from the centre’s use before applying for permanent funding.

With files from AM800’s Meagan Delaurier