As a leader and champion for mental health, CMHA Lambton Kent provides services and facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve mental health. Our efforts promote community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness.
Services Offered
ACCESS Open Minds ACCESS Open Minds Chatham-Kent is the only ACCESS OM site in Ontario, funded through a national research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Graham Boeckh Foundation. Our youth hub brings together existing community partners who are committed to working in a new collaborative and innovative way, offering a "one-stop shop" for young people aged 11-25 and their families looking for mental health support.
In addition to our regular opening hours and an array of other activities and services, our team also offers single session therapy.
Brief Services Individuals experiencing symptoms of Depression and Anxiety can receive support from a mental health professional in the areas of illness education and management, crisis planning and relapse prevention. Through group work and/or 6 - 12 individual appointments with a Social Worker, individuals will learn about moderate mental illness and how it impacts health and overall functioning, and will learn healthy and effective strategies to manage their unique symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Clinical Case Management Bio-psychosocial Rehabilitation emphasizing client choice, empowerment, and individual strengths, is provided on a one-to-one basis. Services include care planning, problem solving, coaching on therapeutic lifestyle choices and education on health and medication. As well, advocacy in accessing financial benefits, housing, food, clothing and community health services is provided. Crisis prevention, consultation and coordination, monitoring, support and life skills are also important functions of the Case Management role.
Concurrent Disorders Case Manager The Concurrent Disorders Program provides screening of all clients in receipt of CMHA Services for concurrent disorders (mental illness and addiction). Additionally, the Concurrent Disorders Specialist provides intensive case management services for clients diagnosed with a complex concurrent disorder. A Concurrent Disorder Group is also available throughout the year.
Dual Diagnosis Specialist Assessment and support is provided to dually diagnosed individuals (individuals with a mental illness and a diagnosis of developmental delay), and with their families and other service providers to develop crisis prevention plans, facilitate community integration and coordinate developmental and mental health services.
Early Intervention Services (EDIS) for Youth/Young Adults (14 - 35) Early intervention is key! EDIS provides early intervention services to individuals between the ages of 14-35 who are experiencing a first onset of Psychosis. Services Offered: screening, nursing assessment, comprehensive assessment, linkage with a psychiatrist and other community supports, individual treatment planning, psychotherapy, reintegration support, family engagement, community awareness and education.
Geriatric Mental Health Outreach Team (GMHOT) The goal of this service is to enhance the quality of life for older age adults with complex mental health needs living in a long-term care home, retirement home and community. The team comprised of a Psychiatrist, Registered Nurses, Social Worker and an Occupational Therapist provide psychiatric evaluation and care within the long-term care, retirement home and community settings. The team works with care staff and family to support the client with stabilization.
Mental Health First Response Open 24 hours per day including weekends and holidays, the Crisis Line is available to anyone in Lambton County and Kent County who is experiencing mental health problems or crisis. Service includes telephone crisis intervention (mental health status assessment, suicide intervention), referrals, and family support (information regarding options for assisting a loved one in mental health crisis). The Crisis Line is also available to healthcare providers seeking assistance navigating community resources.
Rapid Assessment Intervention and Treatment (RAIT) Program The RAIT team will provide unique mental health services in partnership with Primary Health Care Practitioners to individuals across Lambton/Kent Counties. RAIT services will be provided to individuals who have limited access to mental health services. The RAIT Program is an interdisciplinary team that will develop a treatment plan in collaboration with the individual and their Primary Health Care Practitioner. The RAIT team is comprised of the following professional designations; psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychotherapy and client care assistants. Responsive access to the RAIT Program will be available through the individuals Primary Health Care Practitioner with a target response within business hours. Services will be short term in duration, with a solution based focus and facilitating ongoing mental health services when necessary. Services may include any of the following: psychiatric consult and recommendations, nursing assessment and treatment, psychotherapy treatment, psychosocial interventions, and life skills coaching as well, linkages and referrals to needed resources and services within CMHA or externally to other community professionals.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
