The Canadian Mental Health Association, Elgin Middlesex is excited to announce the launch of a free taxi service for youth experiencing a mental health crisis.
This joint project between Star Taxi, MINDS of London-Middlesex and CMHA Elgin Middlesex launched December 1, and will provide transitional aged youth (typically 16-25 years old) living in rural Middlesex (boundaries include Lucan-Parkhill) free taxi service from home to the 24/7 Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Centre at 648 Huron St, London and back.
Youth in crisis can contact Reach Out, which offers information, support and crisis services (call or text 519-433-2023 or web chat at reachout247.ca).
If youth need transportation to the CMHA Crisis Centre in London, Reach Out will contact Star Taxi who will dispatch a Taxi Driver trained in transporting youth in crisis, to safely drive the youth to the Crisis Centre free of charge.
Once youth arrive at the Crisis Centre, they will receive needed care and support. Youth will be provided free transportation back to their homes.
The development of this project has been an on-going collaboration between the Parkhill and Lucan Libraries, Star Taxi, the Canadian Mental Health Association Elgin Middlesex and MINDS of London. The group is especially grateful to MINDS, for bringing together the collaborators and funding this pilot.
