Lack of funds puts free taxi service for rural youth in mental health crisis at standstill

UPDATE: On Dec. 13, St. Joseph's Health Care London said $15,000 in emergency funding was provided to the R2MH program to resume its service in the short-term. 

A service providing free taxi rides to rural and Indigenous youth seeking crisis and mental health supports around the London and Middlesex area was halted earlier this week due to lack of funding. 

The Road to Mental Health (R2MH) program took people living in rural areas between ages 16 and 25 to and from mental health and addiction care centres, and doctors' appointments. It was paused on Dec. 10 until further notice.

R2MH is invaluable in empowering young people and its loss has left a gaping hole for communities already struggling with transportation barriers to access health care, said a youth health worker at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, one of the communities who used it. 

"Transportation for Indigenous people has been and continues to be the number one barrier for accessing any kind of services," said Meaghan MacLeod, a counselor for youth on the First Nation.

"It's a gap we knew already existed but this program came in like a lifesaver. The needs of these young Indigenous people are a bit different. They need to be connected with their communities and this program allowed for that inter-community travel."

R2MH was offered by MINDS of London-Middlesex, which aims to address complex challenges in Canada's mental health system in collaboration between St. Joseph's Health Care London (SJHC), Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley and Checker Taxi. It worked with taxi companies to provide specialized training to drivers to support youth in crises. 

The initiative came about in 2019 after a young person shared their concerns about transportation during mental health crises, and later expanded to Chippewas of the Thames, Oneida of the Thames and Munsee-Delaware First Nations outside London. 

The program was funded by donations to the SJHC Foundation. Program officials weren't available for an interview Thursday but SJHC wrote a statement to CBC News saying increasing demand for the service in recent months has exceeded available funds to keep it running at its current pace.

"Since its inception, the program has seen steady growth. Demand for service has significantly increased from 39 rides in September to 228 rides in November," the statement said. 

"As a result, the program has been temporarily put on hold while efforts are underway to secure alternative funding. Every effort is being made to identify a new funding source to resume the program."

The organization said, "MINDS of London-Middlesex recognizes the impact the pause may have on youth and remains committed to resuming the program." 

Service empowered youth

Prior to R2MH, MacLeod used to arrange transportation and would sometimes be the one driving youth around. Since joining the program at the end of summer, at least 13 youths have been able to travel within and outside the community, she said.

"For Indigenous youth in the community, it's bringing them to mental health appointments in London or surrounding communities. But it's also taking youth from other smaller towns to the community for cultural events, mental health or doctors' appointments, so it's connecting them with the supports and community members."

MacLeod said the program has helped youth get home from hospitals late at night and young mothers take their child to medical appointments on the reserve. She said many people have called her since Tuesday expressing disappointment at the program's pause.

"Being able to access services like this empowers them to be leaders and connect to their community in a culturally significant way. They don't have to ask relatives for rides, or try and find money to pay for rides to get to places," said MacLeod. 

Being mobile also helps young people find work and housing opportunities, which creates a sense of purpose and belonging — all of which contributes to their mental wellbeing, she said.

The program's loss will create a ripple effect for youth who are now left without a service they really need, said MacLeod, adding that she hopes it can soon resume.