The citizens in attendance, some of whom complained over our airwaves that they had not been notified of the center’s arrival close to their home, were able to debate with Sherbrooke MP Christine Labrie.

The purpose of the meeting was to recall the aim of the project, the process of setting up the crisis center and the needs it would meet.

Above all, Christine Labrie wanted to answer questions from the neighborhood and the fears of the past few days.

It’s normal that people don’t know what it is. In order for people to be able to find out what a mental health crisis center is, what kind of people we are helping with such a resource, it is important to me to bring together people who work in this environment. You can explain to citizens what this novelty is

‘ said the deputy.

Although most of them support the establishment of a crisis center in Sherbrooke, the participants of the meeting pointed out sometimes with emotion that 125 rue de Vimy is in a residential area and therefore not the ideal place to set up such a service.

I’m all about this project myself, but the fact that it’s my neighbor, I’m the new mother of a little eight-month-old baby, is sure to make things a little more concerningsaid Anne-Sophie Patry, neighbor of the building that will house the crisis center.

” We left Montreal for some rest. […] We clearly won’t get it even if they tried to reassure us. »

There is nobody who can be against it. But there are several models for this. The problem is that this [le projet] was thrown to us when it was almost done. It’s like the toothpaste is already out of the tubeadded Louis Côté, another resident of the neighborhood.

Faced with these concerns, the project’s defenders were reassuring. They feel that this eight-place center is necessary because the hospital is not always the right place for people with mental health problems.

People don’t know what it means to be in need. I’ve heard it quite a lot today. I think what was said helped demystify what it means to be in painobserved CLSC adult mental health social worker Julie Labée.

The craftsmen of the center reminded that the place should have the appearance of a house and be in a quiet area so that people who need the services would want to go there.

During the meeting, the MP also reiterated the importance of having this mental health resource in the region. She wanted to finally popularize concepts that were still misunderstood when it came to mental health.

Several citizens also took the floor to challenge the stereotypes surrounding mental health.

The crisis center is scheduled to open in autumn. The purchase of the building on Rue de Vimy amounts to almost $470,000. The site will be active 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

A work team will be formed in the coming weeks with a view to getting the center up and running. Partnerships will then be built across the region to create communication corridors.

The building will be adapted to make it safe and to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility.

With information from Arianne Béland