The Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health recently shared an update on the region’s SOS medical outreach program.
The SOS program works with partner organizations to continue to help those who need to access addiction and mental health services.
Dr Ian Arra said that the SOS teams have clinics available in two-week periods in Hanover and Owen Sound, but a majority of their work is through community outreach.
“It’s a unique approach to go out to the community and support people who need help most. Specifically, people who are using substances, people who are without homes, and people who are affected by human trafficking,” Arra said. “Plus any person who is not able to access healthcare and are struggling to find essential services.”
Previously, a majority of the outreach service were men, but there is an increasing number of women now using the service – around 60% are men, and 40% are women, according to the most recent numbers.
There was a spike in the number of outreach patients in January of this year, but the numbers dipped to a lower-than-average number of users in May 2024, particularly in couselling services.
Arra says it’s because there is a focus on resolution, which patients also want. They want to use the service to make their lives better.
“People want to better their life… any person. Nobody that is [in that situation] using drugs or is without a home is enjoying that situation.”
While the program is focused on helping people access the services they need and improving their situations, they do have repeat clients. This past June, the professionals who work with SOS saw 77 repeat clients, in addition to 15 new ones.
