SEARCH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

History

Search Community Mental Health Services is an Adult Community Mental Health Program funded by the South West Local Health Integration Network.

1978 - The Strathroy Multi-Service Centre (no longer in existence) was asked by various organizations to address the problem of people experiencing mental health issues and the lack of services in Strathroy. As a result of these concerns, the Multi-service Centre put a proposal in for funding to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to provide some form of service.

October 1979 - The program received funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Search began as a Social/Recreational Program that would provide services to people with a serious mental illness. The basement of the Salvation Army on High Street in Strathroy was the first location for our services. Some of the goals of the program were to enhance the quality of life for individuals, to teach life skills, social interaction and for individuals to develop a sense of well being. The majority of the clientele at this time were from Homes for Special Care, an outpatient division of the London Psychiatric Hospital.

1979 - As the Program became more widely known, people in need of counselling services approached the agency requesting help. An evening support group was established and the Social/Recreation program ran simultaneously with a supportive/counselling program. Search expanded and moved to a larger facility on Front Street in 1981. During the first three years of operation there were two full time staff.

1981-1982 The Search offices were located in a small home on Front St. in Strathroy. The program offered individual counselling services to people living in West Middlesex County who were experiencing difficulty in their day-to-day life. People referred themselves to the agency or were referred by their physician, public health nurse, social worker, etc. In October of 1982 the program moved into a larger house on Metcalfe St. in Strathroy.

April 21, 1982 - The Advisory Board forms into the Board of Directors, and the agency become incorporated.

October 1982 - The program moves to a larger facility, a house located at 188 Metcalfe Street. Search offers a women's support group and a long-term maintenance program.

February 1987 - A Rural Resource Centre was funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. At this time there was a farming crisis in Southwestern Ontario. The purpose of this centre was to provide farming resource materials to people in West Middlesex. It was hoped that this position would make the rural community aware of the services that existed at Search, and that farmers in crisis would utilize the services.

1990 - An information phone-in line was established. A needs survey was completed and a Community Advisory Committee was established. By 1992, Search provided a wide range of services with a staff of 7, and answered over 600 calls a month.

1997 - A self-run Consumer/Survivor group began meeting at Search, and the Friendship Centre, a consumer run drop-in centre, opened at 63 Frank Street. Also that year, Search hired their first Community Support Worker.

1999 - Search was twenty years old. Staff had increased to 11 and Search continued growing. A housing agreement between Search and WOTCH (Western Ontario Therapeutic Community Hostel), was established.

2000 - Search had outgrown their building, and plans for a new facility at Richmond and Maitland Streets in Strathroy were underway. Two adjacent lots at Richmond and Maitland Streets in Strathroy were purchased in January 2000 and building was started in August of 2001. A clean up crew made up of Search consumers worked on site for several months during construction. This project was initiated by Vicky Stevens, Executive Director, and enabled 11 people to increase their workforce experience, which lead to other work opportunities for some.

2002 - The Search facility at 21 Richmond Street was completed in March of 2002. It contains 9 offices, 3 large meeting rooms, shower and laundry facilities, a community kitchen, and a tuck shop. One half of the building houses the Activity Program, where participants increase lifeskills, and enjoy socialization and leisure. The other is administration and counselling services.

2002 - Search Community Mental Health Services, and Vicky Stevens, Executive Director, were the joint recipients of the 2002 CMHA Mental Health Award.

June 12, 2002 - The official Ribbon cutting for the new building, along with an Open House, was held on June 12, 2002, with over 500 guests from the community attending.

November 2004 - Search celebrated 25 years of service in the community. This milestone was marked by an Open House celebration, with approximately 500 attending.

August 2006 - Search received funding to start-up a Crisis Response Service in partnership with the Middlesex Hospital Alliance. Search staff increased to 17 including on-call crisis workers.

October 2009 - 30 years of service in the community, and a free BBQ for the public was held.

February 18, 2010 - Search announced receipt of a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for $100,000 to establish a foundation.

June 21, 2010 - Launch of the new Search website.

Search continues to be dedicated to the provision of mental health services in West Middlesex County, with programs ranging from Information and Referral Services and a Mental Health Crisis Response Service to Community Support Services, the Activity Program, and Counselling.