Community Vitality 2025 - Southwest Middlesex Health Centre

 

Community Vitality 2025

Southwest Middlesex Health Centre

Mental Health and Wellness Support for Indigenous Patients

Grant: $138,544 over 2 years

Grant Summary: This project improves the services that Southwest Middlesex Health Centre provides to Indigenous patients. It includes timely access to mental health supports and foot care, and ensures all staff are trained in culturally safe health care so that Indigenous patients feel respected, safe, and represented while receiving care. 

The Southwest Middlesex Health Centre team

When the Southwest Middlesex Health Centre was established in Mount Brydges, Ontario, in 1974, one of its founding principles was to “integrate the health services of the First Nation reserves and the general community.” Located near the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, the Munsee-Delaware First Nation, and the Oneida Nation of the Thames, the health centre currently provides primary healthcare directly to more than 800 Indigenous clients.

“With this funding from the Community Vitality grant program, we will be able to improve access to culturally safe health care for Indigenous patients by fostering a health care environment that respects Indigenous traditions, promotes long-term well-being, and addresses health care disparities,” said Board Chair, Cheryl Waters.

The $138,544 in funding over two years will support improvements in three priority areas:

  • Mental health: Collaborating with Indigenous-owned and operated Noojimo Health (the first all-Indigenous virtual mental wellness clinic), the health centre will provide access to culturally appropriate mental health supports without delay.

  • Foot care: Foot health is an essential but frequently neglected component of overall wellness, especially within Indigenous communities in Canada, where chronic conditions, such as diabetes, can lead to severe complications. Through this funding, the Southwest Middlesex Health Centre will be able to offer on-site foot care, making it accessible for Indigenous clients who would otherwise need to travel further.

  • Culturally safe room: With input from all three First Nations communities, the health centre will create a dedicated safe space to nurture the emotional, spiritual, and cultural well-being of Indigenous clients. The space will offer a private, comfortable setting where they can receive medical news while ensuring their emotional and spiritual needs are honoured. The room will also be equipped with proper ventilation to allow for traditional practices such as smudging ceremonies.

The Community Vitality grant will also support ongoing training for physicians, residents, and staff, developed and led by Indigenous organizations, to strengthen the health centre’s ability to deliver care that aligns with Indigenous values and traditions.

“Ultimately, this project will empower Indigenous patients, improving overall health outcomes. As a teaching clinic, we can ensure that our future family medicine doctors are trained in providing safe and respectful health care to Indigenous patients,” said Waters.

Full list of 2025 Community Vitality grant recipients:

 
Matthew Brewer