CMHA to end extended hours pilot

The Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Extended Hours Pilot Project comes to an end Nov. 27.

The pilot has been in effect since Sept. 7. It offers extended operational hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 8 p.m., at the main office at 111 Elm St. Daytime hours remained the same for Mondays and Fridays.

In conducting the pilot project, CMHA requested feedback from other community agencies, individuals receiving service from the association, and its own staff on the extended hours.

The data gathered will help the organization identify the benefit of staying open in the evening, which days suited each individual best, the types of support services they would like to access at that time, as well as the barriers to accessing services, in the daytime or evening.

“The surveys were a great way to engage community need, not just when it comes to receiving services in the evening, but during current daytime hours as well,” said Chantal Makela, manager of administrative services with the CMHA's Sudbury/Manitoulin branch.

The Canadian Mental Health Association is still collecting feedback on its Extended Hours Pilot Project. To fill out a survey visit the CMHA website by Friday, Dec. 4.