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Gatineau Crisis Centre Faces Indefinite Closure
17 Dec
Summary
- Gatineau's 24/7 mental health crisis centre will close its doors this Friday.
- A lack of funding is cited as the primary reason for the indefinite closure.
- The centre's closure will impact suicide prevention services in the Outaouais region.
Centre d'aide 24/7, a non-profit mental health crisis centre in Gatineau, Quebec, will cease operations indefinitely this Friday. The organization announced it would stop accepting new clients on Monday. This abrupt closure is attributed to its funding agreement expiring at the end of September, leaving the centre unable to sustain its operations.
Established in 1987, the centre has provided crucial free shelter, mental health monitoring, and referrals for shorter durations. Its closure is expected to create a significant gap in services, particularly for suicide prevention in the Outaouais region. The centre's phone lines will be rerouted to the provincial 811 health consultation line.
Despite efforts to find savings, the health authority's request for $100,000 in cuts proved unfeasible. Local officials are expressing concern, with discussions underway to address the immediate impact on the population and existing health services, which are anticipated to face increased demand.
