People with lived experience and service providers connecting around mental health and substance use

The Connections Committee (formerly the Haliburton County Mental Health and Substance Use Working Group) was formed in 2021, after Service Providers reported seeing an increase in substance use and deaths associated with drug poisonings in our community, and an increase in more complex mental health needs during the pandemic.​

The purpose of the Committee is to help people with lived and living experience give input and co-create improvements in our service system; establish new ways to engage the community in taking this co-creation approach; and ultimately change service providers’ practices and improve the health outcomes of people with lived experience.

The Committee is also now considered the Haliburton chapter of the HKLN Drug Strategy and a sub-committee of the County’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.

We have monthly meetings with several key service providers and people with lived experience to share current updates and potential strategies and ways to work together.

The Committee has developed tools and resources for engagement​ for service providers and held a 3-part community education services on practical tips for engaging people with lived experience in service delivery and organizational planning​.

We are looking for ongoing funding to continue and enhance this work.

For more information about the Connections Committee and how to get involved, email info@pointintime.ca.