Half of Ontario (52%) Citizens Very Concerned About Their Mental Health as a Result of Covid-19 Impact - Toronto (GTA) Soars Higher (58%)

Substance Abuse Treatment Leader Retools Entire Program Amidst Pandemic,
Anticipates Lagging Impact Tidal Wave of Need in Coming Months

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - One of Ontario's  leading providers of substance addiction treatment and concurrent mental health disorders— Renascent - released the findings of a survey today that indicates half (52%) of Ontario citizens—and a much higher group of six in 10 (58%) residents of Toronto (GTA)—are very concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health. The results come on the heels of a recent study by The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and underscores the need for accredited, evidence-based treatment programs to be available for those who engage in substance abuse to cope.

"The nature of the pandemic is creating enormous waves of anxiety and depression. We know this type of crisis event has a lagging effect, so the full societal mental health impact is a few months off. Make no mistake: there is a tidal wave of affected people and families forming offshore right now and when it arrives seeking help and treatment it will exacerbate an already existing crisis in the sector." said Renascent CEO Laura Bhoi. "We are retooling our entire treatment program to deal with the new realities of COVID-19 both now and when that anticipated percussion occurs." she said.

Renascent evidence-based treatment programs have helped over 50,000 individuals, families, communities, and workplaces affected by alcohol and drug addiction and co-occurring mental illness.

Learn how the new dilemmas posed by COVID-19 are being met: how do mental health and substance abuse treatment programs adapt now? What is the mental health lagging effect and anticipated shock to a pre-existing crisis for treating people and their families in need? How do you treat people in a recovery program that has in-person group support and counselling at its core? How do you onboard clients to treatment facilities during a pandemic and ensure staff and others are kept safe and well?

Renascent Director of Programs and Operations Michael Lochran agrees: "Face to face, human contact will always be crucial for treatment programs, but the pandemic has forced us to construct new applications not readily used by our sector previously, like telehealth and online counselling. With a demand surge expected in the months ahead we can already see how these new tools will not only be beneficial then but also bring long-lasting improvements that will revolutionize the way our sector delivers more accessible services."

The full Renascent study is here: https://dartincom.ca/polls/ 

Renascent CEO Laura Bhoi and Michael Lochran, Director of Programs and Operations, are available for interviews. Full media release: https://renascent.ca/news/

SOURCE Dart Insight and Communications

Media contact: Victoria Ollers, 416-822-2288, [email protected]