Caring for Women’s Mental Health

Women’s Mental Health: A Rising Call for Action

Across Halton Healthcare, more and more women are arriving in our emergency departments, not for physical injuries, but for something invisible yet overwhelming—mental health and addiction crises.

Women now account for over half of all mental health-related ER visits, and this trend is only growing. These numbers represent an urgent call for specialized care, and the need for that care has never been greater.

As our outpatient programs fill up, with women making up 61% of unique patients, it’s clear: our community’s women are relying on us more than ever. We’re answering that call with new services, expanded programs, and trauma-informed care, but there’s so much more to do.

The Growing Burden on Women’s Mental Health

Behind every visit to the ER or outpatient clinic is a woman dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, or addiction—often in silence, often carrying the weight of multiple roles in her family and community. The strain on women’s mental health is undeniable, and the numbers tell us this: 59% of trauma-related cases in our emergency departments involve women.

As the challenges of mental health grow, so does the need for gender-specific support.

Our outpatient mental health programs are a critical resource for these women, and we’re seeing more repeat visits. In fact, while the number of unique patients has slightly decreased, the total number of visits has risen by 2.5% this year alone. This trend underscores how women are increasingly dependent on these services for ongoing support and treatment.

Your Support is Changing Lives

With the generous support of our donors, we’ve made vital improvements to our child and adolescent eating disorders program—one of the most urgent areas of need. We’ve strengthened in-home support, working closely with our Paediatrics team to enhance our services and give our staff the skills they need to make a bigger impact.

We’ve hired a part-time dietitian who works with both child and adult patients, allowing our team lead to focus on managing referrals and reducing waitlists. Additionally, we’ve brought in a Child and Youth Counsellor, offering home visits, meal support, and family coaching to create a more holistic and accessible approach to care. These initiatives are helping our patients and their families receive the specialized attention they need, right when they need it.

Looking Forward: Expanding Trauma-Informed Care

Our commitment to mental health goes far beyond immediate treatment. Our hospital is focused on embedding trauma-informed care across all our programs, an approach that shifts the conversation from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” By understanding the root causes of trauma, we can better engage with patients, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce the risk of re-traumatization during care.

Trauma-informed care is a philosophy that recognizes the complex experiences of our patients and offers them the compassion and dignity they deserve. This approach is essential for improving long-term mental health outcomes, especially for women and youth, who are disproportionately affected by trauma-related mental health issues.

How You Can Help

The demand for mental health services continues to grow, and we cannot meet it alone. We need your help to ensure every woman in our community has access to the care and support they deserve.

Your donations enable us to expand our programs, bring in specialized staff, and ensure that no one is left waiting for the care they urgently need.

Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of women facing mental health challenges. By supporting OTMH, you are not only providing care—you are offering hope, healing, and a path forward for the women who need it most.