Faces of CMHA: “We help navigate the system, while individuals focus on maintaining hope and pursuing recovery.”

Learn about Here 24/7 through Jeffrey Stanlick, Manager of Here 24/7 at CMHA Waterloo Wellington. Follow the ‘Faces of CMHA’ series for a glimpse into the lives of the people who spend each day working to make a difference at the Canadian Mental Health Association:

Navigating the mental health and addiction system can be complicated and overwhelming for both individuals in need, as well as for our staff. As the manager for Here 24/7, I am always amazed at the empathy, resilience and unconditional positive regard that our service coordinators display in their day to day work. Whether you call during the day, evening, night or weekend, you are met with a welcoming voice, somebody who cares, is ready to listen and help take action to facilitate recovery.

This is the Here 24/7 service – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week someone is there for you.

Here 24/7 is the front door to the addictions, mental health and crisis services provided by 12 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. We do the intake, assessment, referral, crisis, waitlist and appointment bookings for the community. It’s our job to help guide and figure out a person’s needs. We help navigate the system, while individuals focus on maintaining hope and pursuing recovery.

I frequently receive phone calls, emails or written notes from people who have accessed services and/or support that was jumpstarted by the Here 24/7 team. The work that happens is transformational and exemplified by recent feedback from a person who shares “It felt like someone had taken my hand and held onto it”.

This is why we do what we do. We come to work each day for the betterment of each other and our community. We come with integrity, compassion and professionalism. Below is a summary of excerpts taken from my inbox that describe people’s experience with the Here 24/7 team. We are far from perfect but we continually strive to do better and at the end of the day, we care about you!