Elgin Ontario Health Team

11/20/2025

It’s National Addictions Awareness Week.

This week, we join communities across Canada in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and strengthening our collective response to substance use health and addictions.

In Elgin, OHT partners are working together to reimagine how people access care - creating more open doors, timely help, and a system that meets people where they are.

➡️ A growing number of local providers are being trained in “one-at-a-time” therapy, a practical approach that gives people the support they need, when they need it - without waiting lists or complicated referrals.

➡️ The recently approved Elgin Neighbourhood Health Home Model builds on our community’s strengths to bring more connected, equitable care close to home. This approval represents a critical step toward ensuring that everyone in Elgin who desires it can be attached to a family physician, primary care nurse practitioner or primary care team that supports their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Together, these efforts strengthen access to mental health and addictions supports across our region, helping people get care sooner and in ways that work for them.

If you or someone you know needs support now, help is available:
🌐 CMHA Thames Valley: https://cmhatv.ca/
🌐 Reach Out 24/7: https://reachout247.ca/
🌐 ConnexOntario: https://connexontario.ca/

ConnexOntario offers free, confidential information on health services for those facing issues with alcohol, drugs, mental illness, or gambling. Get help today.

11/19/2025

This , we're highlighting some of the ways you can use digital health to take charge of your care:

🔹 Virtual Urgentcareontario.ca – Book a same-day virtual appointment for health concerns for you or your child that aren’t life-threatening but need urgent attention: urgentcareontario.ca

🔹 Health811 – Call or connect online with a registered nurse, 24/7, for free and confidential health advice: health811.ontario.ca

🔹 Connectmyhealth – Access your hospital records online from participating hospitals across Southwestern Ontario, all in one secure place: info.connectmyhealth.ca/home

🔹 Online Appointment Booking – some local providers offer online appointment booking, including the Elgin Community Health Hub. If you do not have access to a Family Doctor or Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP), you can make an appointment at the Hub: https://thamesvalleyfht.ca/locations/elgin-community-health-hub/

Digital health tools like these make it easier to get support, stay informed, and play an active role in your health and wellness.


Thames Valley Family Health Team

11/19/2025

Parents, we need your help! 🙌
The Planet Youth Survey is coming to your child’s school — and their voice can help shape the future of our community. 🌱

✏️ Sign the consent form today so your Grade 9 or 10 student (ages 14-17) can be part of the change.
It’s not just a survey — it’s their story. 💬

🔗 Consent form link below

TVDSB:
https://schoolapps2.tvdsb.ca/parents/tvdsb_parents/

LDCSB: https://ldcsb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Ld2A2S8eD2Nd0q

11/17/2025

Meet Heather, Elgin OHT’s new Indigenous Health Lead!

Heather is an Anishinaabe nurse from Sheguiandah First Nation. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and a steadfast commitment to advancing health equity. A seasoned healthcare leader, Heather has led diverse teams, implemented culturally responsive programs, and driven initiatives that improve outcomes for Indigenous and underserved communities. A recognized public speaker, Heather engages audiences across Canada on topics including Indigenous health, equity, and leadership, inspiring collaboration and meaningful change within complex health systems.

In this role, Heather will work with local First Nations and the broader local Indigenous community to build and improve culturally responsive pathways to care, supporting Indigenous-led change in how services are designed and delivered across Elgin.

We are thrilled to have Heather join us as we work towards improving health care system experiences and outcomes of Indigenous peoples.

11/15/2025

November is Lung Health Month and Lung Cancer Awareness Month!

Your lungs work hard for you, and we can help you take care of them. Regular screening and early detection can save lives.

Don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner? You can now access comprehensive care for breathing-related conditions, such as COPD and asthma, through the Elgin Community Health Hub. Visit the website below for more information, or call 519-473-0530 x 2258.

Elgin Community Health Hub: https://thamesvalleyfht.ca/locations/elgin-community-health-hub/

Take a deep breath and take action for your lung health.

11/14/2025

📣 Calling Elgin & Area service providers who support people trying to navigate the mental health, substance use health, and addictions system 📣

We invite you to join us at our next Lunch and Learn: "Making Connections: Coordinated Navigation of Mental Health and Social Supports"

This is an opportunity to create local connections, share information and discuss strategies. We will identify some of the key roles that exist in Elgin to help you or your clients find appropriate services and supports, and share some upcoming work in this area.

📅 November 26, 12pm - 12:30pm
📍 Virtual. Join via Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/97095040610?pwd=IURQd1i5UJAh4iHejma23OBooH1AMV.1

11/13/2025

Registration is now open for Christmas Care 2025.

The program assists the lower income public of St. Thomas-Elgin to register themselves and/or their family for a little support that is meant directly for the Christmas season. They provide a hamper of food which includes cereal, cookies, canned goods, apples, potatoes as well as your choice of either turkey or ham, in order to make a complete Christmas dinner.

To learn more and find registration details, visit

At Christmas Care we work hard to make sure every dollar is put to great use. 99¢ cents of every $1.00 dollar received goes directly back into the community

11/12/2025

Today, the Elgin Ontario Health Team was joined by community partners and media for an announcement about new federal funding that will strengthen our local response to opioid-related harms.

Through Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund, the City of St. Thomas will receive more than $640,000 over the next two years. This funding will support community-led initiatives that expand access to mental health, substance use, and addictions services, enhance local service capacity, and improve culturally safe support for those most affected.

Together with our community partners, the Elgin OHT has already been laying the groundwork to improve access to mental health, substance use, addictions, and social supports locally. This investment will help us build on those efforts and continue moving important initiatives forward.

More specifically, this funding will help to:

➡️ Strengthen The INN as a community service hub and expand outreach so people can connect to help where they are - without barriers.

➡️ Make it easier for people to talk to someone when they need support most - through faster, flexible, one-conversation-at-a-time counselling and coaching, focused on what matters to them in that moment.

➡️ Equip more local helpers with training in compassionate, trauma-aware care, so every interaction helps people feel safer, heard, and respected.

➡️ Enhance culturally safe care for Indigenous community members, guided by respect, relationship, and traditional approaches to healing.

This investment will help us bring care and support closer to where people are, in ways that are safe, responsive, and grounded in community.

📄 Read the full media release:https://www.elginoht.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025.11.12.ETF-Media-Release_Sealing-the-Gaps.pdf

City of St. Thomas

11/12/2025

Last week, we were proud to bring together navigators, healthcare leaders, and community organizations from Elgin, Oxford, and Middlesex-London to continue advancing health system navigation and equity across our region.

Key highlights included:

📞 Health811 updates: expanding digital and live-chat navigation supports, new partnerships with 988 for mental health crisis response, and upcoming initiatives to better assist caregivers and non-clinical inquiries.

👩‍⚕️ HealthCare Connect insights: updates on provincial strategies to connect people to primary care physicians and nurse practitioners and a look at how 235,000 Ontarians are being supported on the waitlist for primary care.

🤝 Cross-OHT collaborations: participants shared projects that embed community navigators and intake coordinators in local health centres to ease the burden on physicians and help connect residents directly to care.

🌍 Health Equity Panel: powerful conversations on Two-Eyed Seeing in Indigenous services, newcomer experiences navigating language and cultural barriers, and the role of mobile and community-based services in reaching people where they are.

We’re grateful to all the speakers, partners, and participants who joined us to share their insights and strengthen our collective work toward a more connected, equitable, and person-centred healthcare system.

Oxford OHT Middlesex London Ontario Health Team

11/11/2025

OHT members, community partners, and media are invited to attend a Media Release tomorrow, Wednesday, November 12th.

💬 Topic: Health Canada's Emergency Treatment Fund
📍St. Thomas Social Services Building, 230 Talbot St.
🕒 3:00pm

More information: Email info@elginoht.ca

City of St. Thomas

11/10/2025

This , we recognize and thank Nurse Practitioners (NPs) for the essential role they play in keeping our communities healthy.

NPs provide comprehensive, person-centred care - supporting individuals and families across all stages of life. Their expertise helps strengthen our healthcare system, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes.

We extend our appreciation to all NPs in Elgin for the meaningful impact they make every day. Your expertise, leadership, and dedication make a lasting difference in our community. Thank you for all that you do. 💚

11/07/2025

We've partnered with local school boards, elected officials, and community agencies to adopt the internationally-recognized Icelandic Prevention Model for youth substance use prevention. It's called Planet Youth!

👉Two new coalitions have formed - Planet Youth Elgin-St. Thomas, and Planet Youth Oxford. Give them a follow Planet Youth Oxford Elgin St. Thomas 🫶

An upcoming survey will help steer local Planet Youth actions:
✅Students in Grades 9 and 10 in the region are invited to participate
✅Consent forms have been sent home by school boards to parents/guardians
✅All responses are completely confidential. Your child's answers will not be identifiable in any way.

Learn more: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/news/posts/swph-supports-community-partnership-to-prevent-youth-substance-use/