CMHA receives $200K to expand support of transgender people

A local organization will be able to help more transgender people find work and develop long-lasting relationships with funding from the provincial government.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) York Region and South Simcoe is receiving $200,000 to expand its gender affirming clinic, with a mandate to provide mental health and medical services to the transgender community.

"It is much needed," said Michelle Hermans, nurse practitioner. "There is a massive gap in services for these people. It is very challenging for them to access the support they need. Having this funding creates accessibility, breaks down barriers to connecting to these services and, I think, it makes a difference for their mental health and well-being."

CMHA York Region and South Simcoe served 18,000 clients in 2023. It offers more than 30 mental health and addiction programs, such as the gender-affirming clinic, for youth, adults, family caregivers, local businesses, and community organizations. 

The money provided to the branch will be distributed through the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Resilient Communities Fund to support hiring staff, administrative costs, program equipment purchases and cognitive behavioural therapy affirm training. Karen Kugelmass, social worker, said the program was developed some time ago and has had a wait list. The plan was to have a workshop for three hours, twice a month. Demand, however, increased drastically. 

"By August of 2021 we had to close our wait list," said Kugelmass. "There was so much of a demand that we weren't able to take in more folks."

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy emphasized the government's commitment to ensure residents have the services they need.

"Our government is dedicated to ensuring every Ontarian can connect to the care they need, when and where they need it," said Gallagher Murphy. "Whether it is expanding access to services in the community; which is exactly what CMHA does, every single day, they also support virtual care or ensuring you have a hospital bed available when needed."

According to a Statistics Canada study, transgender youth are far more likely to think about suicide or attempt it. Surveyors gathered results from 6,800 adolescents aged 15 to 17 years old. Hermans affirmed the importance of helping this at-risk population.

"We know there is a significantly higher rate of mental health, suicide, and suicide ideation in this population," said Hermans. "We know they are a very vulnerable group of people."

Kugelmass said clients are hesitant at first to access services. She said they can introduce and refer them to other services to support their mental and physical health. 

Staff at CMHA will be able to help patients with a variety of concerns. For example, a client receiving gender-affirming care can now receive assistance to enhance their mental health, find shelter in the community, and build their social network.

"This expansion is going to allow us to have staff to be able to support clients with seeking and accessing those other services, so they have sustainable, safe, and affordable housing," said Kylee Goldman, director of services.