Province exploring community mental health care

A summit on mental health care at Humber Polytechnic explored how community care rather than traditional individual care helps people realize they are not isolated during crises.

Speakers at the Mental Health Summit at the Barrett Centre on Nov. 29 say a focus on community care allows health practitioners to deal with clients with more compassion and navigate continuous care in every stage of wellness. 

Michael Tibollo, the Ontario associate minister of mental health and addictions, said the province and various stakeholders in the mental health care system are working to build a system rooted in the principles of a continuum of care. 

Tibollo said a community-based approach is essential to ensure no one is left behind, regardless of where they live and the foundation of the strategy is the concept behind the continuum of care. 

“The continuum of care takes a holistic view of health, addressing every phase of a person's journey and providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed,” he said.

“Meeting people where they are and helping them move forward, this approach ensures a truly responsive and inclusive system,” Tibollo said. 

He said a community-based system is rooted in compassion, accessibility and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone. 

“It ensures support is accessible at every stage, from prevention and early intervention to treatment, recovery, and long-term aftercare, while (recognizing) that people's needs evolve throughout their lives and that care must adapt accordingly," he said. 

“To break down the barriers, it's crucial to start normalizing conversations about mental health within families, making it something that adds value and perspective for those in need,” Tibollo said. 

“It reflects a commitment to equity, ensuring care is a fundamental right, not a privilege and the system must also be culturally appropriate, specific, and respectful, meeting people where they are on their journey to better mental health,” he said.

Adriana Mema, a Humber professor in the Civil Engineering Technology program, who focuses on the mental health of women in the construction industry, said there was no mentorship, no colleagues, no library, and no opportunity for her to step onto a construction site, the place where she felt she could truly make a difference.

“I felt like I was on an island, navigating a new life in isolation and questioning whether I belonged in the industry or made the right decision to move to Canada,” said Mema, who is also president of Adriatica Safety Consulting Inc., a company she founded in 2004.

She said Canada emphasizes independence and self-reliance. 

“While empowering, this can leave newcomers, especially in male-dominated fields, feeling isolated. For women, this sense of isolation is amplified by a lack of representation and mentorship,” Mema said.

She said that feelings of loneliness and self-doubt can lead to stress and burnout.

“To address this, we must balance individualism with collectivism by fostering mentorship programs and creating collaborative networks where everyone feels included,” she said. Mema said it involves building a connection that enables people to accept treatment, trust the process, and hold onto hope that their challenges can be managed.

Tibollo said a strength of community care is that it integrates services directly to where people live, work, and grow.

“Understanding different perspectives is key to helping someone, which underscores the importance of mentors and peer-to-peer support,” he said. 

“Adapting treatment models from individualistic societies to a collectivist worldview involves recognizing the importance of addressing mental health within the community,” Tibollio said. 

“Losing hope has serious consequences, both for individuals and those around them. When hope is lost, suicide and suicidal ideation can become options,” Tibollo said.

 “Without hope, recovery is impossible,” he said.

“Hope is the foundation of everything. Addressing biopsychosocial needs and fostering spirituality — not religion, but a sense of spirituality — is critical,” Tibollo said. 

“Hope is essential not only for achieving mental wellness but for maintaining it,” he said.