The Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch is launching a series of community workshops in Amherstburg on April 28, 2026, to provide residents with mental health support and resources.
The first session will take place from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at the Amherstburg Community Service office, located at 320 Richmond St. This initial workshop will focus specifically on substance use awareness and overdose prevention, offering practical skills to attendees in an open, welcoming environment.
These workshops are part of the broader Pathway to Potential initiative, a regional poverty reduction strategy that focuses social investments on priority neighbourhoods within Windsor, Leamington, and Amherstburg. By hosting these sessions, organizers aim to connect community members with support services and reduce the stigma often associated with mental health and substance use.
The timing of these sessions follows a recent increase in local substance use concerns. According to data from the local health unit, there were 19 opioid-related emergency department visits in the region between February 22 and February 28, 2026, with 16 of those cases involving fentanyl. This rise in activity prompted an emergency meeting of more than 32 community partners to coordinate a response.
Nicole Sbrocca, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch and co-chair of the Windsor Essex Community Opioid and Substance Strategy, continues to emphasize the organization’s commitment to addressing these challenges through community-based education and support.
