Purpose 

To respond to the mental health care needs of registered patients and the broader community through both individual and group counselling services. 

Focus 

Individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns; commonly: anxiety, depression, and stress. 

Eligibility 

Individual counselling for mild to moderate: Individuals ages 16+. GAD7 and PHQ 9 score less than 15. Patients will be subject to a biopsychosocial intake assessment to determine their eligibility for the program. The Mental Health team may use their professional judgement, or the findings of the intake assessment, to exclude patients they deem unfit for the program or admit patients who do not meet all the eligibility criteria but would otherwise benefit from the program. 

Exclusions 

• Patients already receiving mental health support services (i.e., counselling elsewhere, case management, etc.) 

• Patients experiencing more severe mental health concerns such as bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, personality disorders, and those in an acute state of distress 

• Crisis/Urgent Referrals. Not equipped to act as a crisis service or receive urgent referrals. Patients can, however, be prioritized based on a case-by-case basis through discussion between counsellor and referring physician 

Goal 

Provide mental health services to strengthen coping skills and improve overall functioning, as well as to continue to expand service capacity of the program. 

Program Activities 

• Individual counselling (6-8 session framework) 

• Psycho-educational mental health webinar – weekly, open to the public, no registration required 

• Psycho-therapy group (Subject to Mental Health Team Capacity)- Rotational, open to applicants who reside in the province of Ontario 

• Care coordination/patient navigation 

• Referral to external resources