News

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Anyone can experience a mental health issue

Date: 2020-10-05

In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
- Canadian Mental Health Association

Taking care of your mental health is an important part of your overall health and wellness. If mental health concerns are limiting your enjoyment of life, help is available. Speaking with your primary care provider about mental health concerns should be no different than any other medical issue. Your primary care provider can help assess your needs, provide referrals to mental health programs and manage your medications.

Reaching out is an essential first step towards better mental health. “If people are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, there is help. We have a fairly simple referral process and we’ll get them to the right place,” says Cathy Clara, Director Community Mental Health at SJCG.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre provides a variety of outpatient mental health services for adults who are looking for support to manage their mental health issues and improve their lives. New treatment options and improvements in medications are helping people to manage mental health concerns, learn how to effectively respond to daily stresses in life and achieve their personal wellness goals. Program staff work in collaboration with primary care providers to ensure your healthcare needs are being met.

Referral Process

The Access Point Northwest is a centralized, online referral platform utilized by primary care providers to initiate referral to the Mental Health Outpatient program and can be accessed at northwestaccesspoint.ca.

What happens next?

Once a referral is received, the client is invited to participate in a “Welcome Workshop,” says Ashley Lyon, Manager of Mental Health Outpatient Services for SJCG. The workshop is designed to inform the client of the program options available, discuss client rights and responsibilities and how our services function.” says Lyon.

In the next stage, the client has an appointment with their assigned “Decision Guide” to develop a client-centred treatment plan. Treatment usually beings within three months of this appointment.
The length of treatment varies. Some clients only need a few appointments to address their needs.

The cost of Outpatient Mental Health Programs at St. Joseph’s Health Centre is covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).