From co-designing alternatives to emergency departments that better serve people experiencing a mental health crisis, to facilitating and enabling the provision of affordable housing options for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses and substance use disorders who need supports to live successfully in the community, Waypoint is working with partners to respond to the growing need for mental health and addiction care in central Ontario.

• The Waypoint Research Institute is driving positive change on a global scale, making an impact on care, outcomes and experiences. A prime example involves Dr. Andrea Waddell and her team, who are employing artificial intelligence in an early warning score system designed to make care safer — the first of its kind in an Ontario psychiatric hospital.
• The important work of creating a welcoming culture that values and respects equity, diversity and inclusion is gaining momentum. This includes providing equitable access to high-quality care that is more responsive to diverse patient needs, as well as ensuring staff are able to expand their knowledge through various training opportunities and experiences.
• A healthy and thriving workforce is a top priority at Waypoint, as shown in the free and confidential Frontline Wellness program for all health care workers across the province, as well as the adoption of a Stepped Care Model that proactively connects staff with care that supports their resilience and mental health, leading and training leaders across Central Ontario hospitals and the community support services sector in using the tool and improving organizational well-being. Waypoint also believes in providing opportunities to learn and grow; the leadership development program nurtures competent, compassionate and innovative individuals equipped to succeed in the complex health care environment.
• Construction will begin this summer on a new 20-bed acute mental health unit that will enable Waypoint, as a regional centre, to support patients and partners with the specialized and expert care they deserve. This highly anticipated unit will include the first psychiatric ICU beds in central Ontario for individuals with increased risk due to severe mental illness, an important milestone toward delivering safer care and relieving pressures on emergency departments.

The afternoon also included a panel presentation on addressing gaps in treatment for depression and anxiety. Dr. Sunderji moderated the discussion with Michael Dunn (Director, Health System Integration), Jess Ariss (Director, Collaborative Learning & Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) and Dr. Kevin Young (Vice-President, Medical Affairs, and Chief of Staff). It was great to share about our leadership and partnerships to better co-ordinate access to care, deliver top-notch evidence based psychotherapies including enabling culturally safe care by Indigenous health service providers, and prepare for the highly anticipated expansion of neurostimulation treatment options at Waypoint for the region.