What we have done so far

The Toronto Central LHIN has invested in various initiatives to support people living with mental health and addictions, including:

• Expansion of supportive housing.
• Outreach services to help seniors with mental illness and/or addictions stay in their community.
• A standard process for client intake and referrals, starting with supportive housing.
• Expanding an electronic medical record for the homeless population called Client Access to Integrated Services and Information.
• Development of a transitional unit to help hospitalized seniors with mental health issues return home.
• Specialized tools and education material to help ER staff identify and assess seniors with mental health and addiction issues, and to link these clients with the appropriate post-ER care.

Building a community of healing for Aboriginal clients

At first glance, the new addiction treatment program launched in the fall of 2009 by the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction (CAMH) looks much like other treatment cycles. But unlike other programs, this one involves Aboriginal elders, smudging ceremonies and other elements culturally relevant to CAMH’s Aboriginal clients.

“[It’s about] building a community of healing,” says Jeff D’Hondt, Aboriginal service manager at CAMH. “It will look very much like other treatment cycles, although others likely won’t have smudging or an elder involved. But the fact is, with adding in that culture, we have something unique.”

Aboriginal clients who sign up for the 21-day treatment cycle will live in one of the new CAMH buildings opened in 2008. Dr. Peter Selby, Addictions Program clinical director at CAMH, says the new program is being viewed as a potential model for culturally competent care.