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Those seeking mental health and addiction treatment options in Windsor and Essex County now have one place to search.

WEC Connect is a new online inventory of services available to area residents with information on 122 local, state and federal assistance programs.

The web page, wecoss.ca/wec_connectwas developed by the Windsor-Essex County Public Health in its role coordinating the Windsor-Essex Community Opioids and Other Substances Strategy (WECOSS), a multi-agency effort to combat the rise in opioid-related harms.

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“This is a one-stop shop at a glance, easily accessible for people looking to access treatment or support,” said Eric Nadalin, director of public health programs of the health office and co-chair

Several barriers can limit access to assistance, Nadalin said. WEC Connect aims to overcome one of these barriers by letting people know what treatment services are available.

“It’s certainly not the complete solution, but it’s a piece of the puzzle.”

The webpage allows visitors to search by service area: substance use, mental health or behavioral addiction. They can select the preferred types of services, such as therapy, mobile response and bedside treatment, as well as the mode of delivery, such as in person, by phone, by text or online. Visitors can also filter between paid services and support at no cost to the individual.

For each available service, the web page provides a description, contact information, cost of service, languages ​​offered, and referral and access details.

“Many parents, friends, relatives or work colleagues have sought to provide information to the people they live with, work with, love, to get them into treatment or to help them open their eyes on what is available to them,” Nadalin said. said. “It’s not an easy process – it’s a thing to make it a little easier for people.”

A WEC Connect which compiles resources for children is in preparation.

The most recent opioid overdose alert was issued by WECOSS in July. Between June 30 and July 6, 22 opioid overdoses were reported by area emergency services. Seventeen of them involved fentanyl.

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