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The CMHA offers a variety of services and programs that are accessible to both the public and other support organizations. As a recognized leader in our field, the CMHA constantly works with a variety of organizations to promote our mandate. This includes, but is not limited to, consumers, survivors and family members.
Public Education
Community Mental Health Support Services
Volunteer Programs
Mental Health Community Support Services
Brokerage Service
The purpose of the Public Education Program is to develop and provide education and programming in mental illness awareness and mental health promotion. Services are provided through speaking engagements, training workshops, school based programs, media relations and anti-stigma campaigns.
- Provides specialized speaking engagements and workshops on such topics
as myths and realities of mental illness , suicide intervention, crisis intervention,
stress management, mental illness, and surviving war and torture (see training)
- Develops educational and promotional materials/resources to increase the
public's awareness of mental health and mental illness
- Conducts media campaigns on specific issues relating to mental illness
in our community
- Conducts events during Mental Health Week in May and Mental Illness
Awareness Week in October.
- Develops and offers school based programming to elementary and secondary
schools on mental health, mental illness, stress, depression and suicide
- Operates an extensive library of videos available on loan to the public
Media Relations
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Spokespersons are available on a variety of topics (housing, mental health reform, stress and depression, suicide and mental illness). Program
Manager: |
- ASIST |
Community
Mental Health Support Services
CMHA supports individuals with a serious mental health problem who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Community Mental Health Support Services provide two distinct types of direct services: the Housing Outreach Program and the Community Support Program. Outreach services are integrated with long-term case management support services where these are required. The Extended Hours team provides back-up, weekend, and after hours/evening support to active clients of the agency.
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Housing Outreach | |
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Initially engages with individuals to try to resolve their “homelessness” and connect them with the ongoing support they need to maintain their housing. The goal for all individuals served by Outreach services is to obtain or maintain the appropriate community housing of their choice. For individuals served by Court Outreach workers the goal is diversion from the criminal justice system for more appropriate community treatment and follow-up. Individuals are engaged at: emergency shelters for homeless single men, women and youth; community (health) centers; in rooming houses; community drop-in centers; Provincial Court House; in housing but at imminent risk of eviction due to a mental health problem; on the street. |
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Community Support | |
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(commonly referred to as case management) provides intensive long-term support to a defined small caseload of clients. The service uses an intensive case management model. The worker develops an individualized service plan with the full involvement of the client. Each community support worker works with approximately 12 clients at a time. We serve approximately 180 clients at any given time. Referrals come from CMHA’s Housing Outreach and MHCSS. |
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Community Treatment Order (CTO) | |
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Since 2001, CMHA also works with individuals who are using a Community Treatment Order as part of their recovery plan. A CTO is a new tool available in Ontario since December 2000, when the Mental Health Act was amended. It is designed to assist those individuals who tend to have multiple hospitalizations. It is a formal agreement between the individual, the psychiatrist, and any community services that are needed to support the individual to maintain their wellness in the community. |
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Concurrent Disorder | |
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CMHA also brings its experience and expertise in serving individuals with a co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder. We currently operate 9 groups in partnership with 5 addiction agencies for CMHA clients struggling with ongoing addictions. CMHA has also launched an extensive training program for all community agencies needing specific training on working with individuals with a concurrent disorder. For more information on this training, see Events & Training. For more information about Community Mental Health Support Services, contact CMHA at (613) 737-7791 |
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Volunteer Community Support Program
CMHA matches trained volunteers on a one-to-one basis with people who
are experiencing mental health problems. Volunteers meet regularly with
their partners to provide companionship and to establish a supportive
relationship. The objective is to help individuals develop self-confidence,
social skills and emotional stability.
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Who can volunteer? | |
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Community Support Volunteers are friendly, caring people interested in helping others. They must be at least 18 years of age and willing to attend a training and orientation program. Volunteers should be able to spend one to two (1-2) hours per week with their partners for a minimum of six (6) months. |
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What training do our volunteers receive? | |
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The Volunteer Community Support Program offers an orientation and skill-training program as well as ongoing educational opportunities. Program staff will provide support, supervision and consultation to the volunteer. |
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What are the benefits for volunteers? | |
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The Volunteer Community Support Program provides on opportunity for personal growth and satisfaction through helping another person. Training is provided in communication, listening skills and interpersonal relationships. |
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How can one become a volunteer? | |
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If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact: Volunteer Program Assistant |
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Partners for Progress
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What is the Partners for Progress program? |
| The Partners for Progress is peer support program which matches volunteers, who have themselves experienced serious mental health problems, with persons of similar disabilities. | |
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What training do volunteers get? |
| The Partners for Progress Program offers an orientation and skill training program for volunteers. Training is provided in communications, listening skills and interpersonal relationships. We also offer ongoing educational opportunities. Program staff provide support, supervision and consultation to the volunteer | |
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What are the benefits for the volunteers? |
| The Partners for Progress Program encourages the participants to grow in dignity and self-worth through the opportunity to be providers of service rather than always being on the receiving end. It provides an opportunity for personal growth and satisfaction through helping another person. | |
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Who can be a volunteer ? |
| Partners' volunteers are people who have experienced serious mental health problems. They are friendly, helpful, and interested in helping others. They must be at least 18 years of age, willing to attend orientation and training sessions, and a supportive team meeting once a month. Volunteers should be able to spend two (2) hours per week with their partners for a minimum of six (6) months. | |
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How does one become a volunteer?? |
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Interested volunteers should contact the: Volunteer Program Assistant |
The Pathway Program
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For information on the Pathway Program, please contact the: Program Assistant of Vocational Services |
Mental
Health Community Support Services (MHCSS)
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Mental Health Information and Referral Service | |
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The MHCSS Intake Workers, along with the staff at CMHA and partner agencies staff, offer information on mental health services, referrals to needed/wanted services, needs assessments, education, advocacy, and consultation to any Ottawa resident. To access this service, contact the CMHA at (613) 737-7791, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, and ask for the Information and Referral staff. |
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Case Management Service | |
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The MHCSS Case Management Service is available to any Ottawa resident currently living with a severe and persistent mental health problem, who lacks adequate supports and requires significant ongoing support to access needed services. The Case Management Service focuses on providing an individual with a mental health professional who will provide intensive, individualized, client-directed support. This includes links to support services, long-term working relationships, and clearly defined goals incorporated into a long-term plan. Requests for case management can be done by phone or in person. Call (613) 737-7791 and ask for an Intake and Assessment Worker, 9:00am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. You may also print, complete and mail or fax a Referral Form and Form to: Intake/Assessment
MHCSS |
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Our Partners | |
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The Mental Health Community Support Services (MHCSS) is a partnership of 8 organizations coordinated by the CMHA . Case managers are located at the partner agencies, and funding is provided by the Ministry of Health and the United Way of Ottawa. |
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Brokerage Service
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What is Brokerage? Brokerage is a two staff service operating in both official languages in the Ottawa community. The service is designed to "open doors" for persons with Dual Diagnosis in the mental health and developmental service sectors, as well as create new options for support. The service promotes a rehabilitative person-centered approach that responds to the breakdown of a person's support system. "Brokers" develop long-term solutions for people. The service promotes collaborative efforts that integrate partnerships among families, agencies, services, and ministries. The "Brokers " attempt to 1) Increase access to appropriate services and supports 2) Provide training to developmental and mental health services professionals to increase awareness of specific needs of clients and their families. 3) Foster and promote collaboration with developmental services and mental health programs from point of access and throughout support life cycle of individuals. 4) Monitor and assess service system gaps reporting findings to relevant Ministries. Who Do We Help? The service is for people with dual diagnosis and complex needs (developmental disability and a mental health diagnosis). This is estimated to be 10% of the dual diagnosis population in Ottawa. The mental health and developmental service systems are often challenged in meeting the needs of this population. "A broker" designs a unique plan of support that combines services from across many sectors. Brokerage Service works in cooperation with intake and assessment services in Mental Health and Developmental Services, the service is therefore usually the last stop rather than the first referral.About our Funders Brokerage Service is funded equally by the Ministry of Community and social services. And the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and is sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ottawa-Carleton Branch. What does a “broker” do? The Brokerage Service fulfills specific roles and functions within the developmental and mental health service delivery systems. To meet its mandate the "brokers" conduct the following activities: Navigation: Providing information and referral, assessment, and contact with various community resources on the behalf of persons using the service. Brokerage has formal collaboration processes with the access points for developmental services and mental health community support services to effectively triage referrals toward community supports. Brokerage formally collaborates with The R.O.H.-Dual Diagnosis Consultation Outreach Team.Technical support and expertise: Development of best practice applications (research based) within support networks of persons with Dual Diagnosis. Wraparound: Delivering a model of service that focuses on an individual's strengths and needs. Plans center on building and enhancing a person's network of services. Through assistance with applied learning, expertise in specialized support structures, the aim is to develop the persons support circle to the point of self-management. Four unique assessments to identify comprehensive support requirements are used as a foundation to wraparound planning. Training: An in-service training model is used to train person's support network. The topics vary across mental health and developmental diagnosis. Focus Groups / Community Consultation: are conducted twice yearly for the purpose of identifying community needs, and gearing the system to respond to "gaps" in service delivery. Findings from these events are reported to the Ministry. Community Development: Brokers participate in active committees and task forces to enhance the Ottawa community's capacity to effectively support people with dual diagnosis. Enabling people to receive life supports clinical supports and maximize potential to rehabilitate. Who Do I contact? Karen Shipman ,
Program Manager
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