Branch Service Types

Following are general definitions of the various types of service provided by CMHA branches in Ontario.

Please note that some branches may not offer all services, and that services within each branch may differ somewhat from the definitions below. Each CMHA branch in Ontario is unique, and services are customized to meet the needs of the local community.

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Aboriginal
Programs provided for and/or with aboriginal individuals or groups.

» Search for Aboriginal services

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Abuse Service
Provision of counselling and treatment services and support to women who have experienced an abusive act or who are in an abusive situation.

» Search for Abuse Service services

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Alternative Business
Provision of consumer-operated businesses that offer full/part time employment at market rate or higher. They offer combination of job development, job placement and supported education within the self-help context. They may also offer self-employment opportunities for consumers to earn income through independent contract work. Support and accommodation are provided on site to consumer employees.

» Search for Alternative Business services

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Assertive Community Treatment Team
Multidisciplinary treatment teams providing assertive outreach, individualized treatment, ongoing and continuous services and include a monitoring and evaluation component.

» Search for Assertive Community Treatment Team services

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Case Management
Case management for a person with a serious mental illness. Case Managers provide at a minimum, the following functions: individualized assessment and planning, service co-ordination (linking service recipients with services and supports), monitoring and evaluation of services provided to recipients, and systems advocacy/resource co-ordination. Case management also includes Community Treatment Order (CTO) co-ordination. This type of service excludes counselling, psychotherapy or other clinical treatment interventions.

» Search for Case Management services

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Children
Branch staff or volunteers deliver individual and group programs to serve children with, or at risk of developing, mental illness. May also include going into the community at large to educate children about issues of mental illness.

» Search for Children services

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Clubhouse
Clubhouses are intentional communities, with members (people with mental illness) and branch staff working together to manage and operate the centres. Services may include daily activities, recreation, life skills training, employment counselling, and supported housing. All services are delivered in a safe, inclusive environment.

» Search for Clubhouse services

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Community Service Information and Referral
Branch staff receive, screen and direct inquiries from people with mental illness, their families and caregivers, and the general public, regarding mental health services and resources. Branches may offer short-term supportive counselling as part of the information and referral program.

» Search for Community Service Information and Referral services

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Concurrent Disorders
Branch staff or volunteers provide support to people with mental illness who also have problems with substance use and addictions.

» Search for Concurrent Disorders services

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Counselling and Treatment
Counselling, psychotherapy and other treatment services for those with serious mental illness in the community.

» Search for Counselling and Treatment services

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Court Support and Diversion
Branch staff and volunteers provide advocacy and support for people with mental illness who are involved with the courts, the police and other legal situations.

» Search for Court Support and Diversion services

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Crisis Intervention
Programs that provide response to urgent individual psychological and/or medical needs of people with serious mental illness (e.g. including safe beds).

» Search for Crisis Intervention services

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Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis refers to having both a mental illness and a co-occurring developmental disability.

» Search for Dual Diagnosis services

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Early Intervention
Provision of specialized treatment and support services to service recipients experiencing a first psychotic episode and their families.

» Search for Early Intervention services

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Ethnocultural/Multicultural
Branches offer culturally sensitive programs for people in diverse communities. Programs may also be provided in languages other than English.

» Search for Ethnocultural/Multicultural services

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Family Initiatives
Branch staff and volunteers provide education and support programs for families of people with mental illness. Family groups often participate in planning and evaluation of care delivery, as well as provision of services such as self-help, peer support and education.

» Search for Family Initiatives services

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French Language
Branch delivers services in French.

» Search for French Language services

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Health Promotion and Education, General Awareness
Branch staff and volunteers work to promote health, increase awareness and educate the community (including the public, professionals, and other sectors which impact on the health of individuals and populations) about mental health and mental illness.

» Search for Health Promotion and Education, General Awareness services

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LBGTQ
Programs for people who are lesbian, bisexual, gay, transexual or questioning.

» Search for LBGTQ services

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Older Adults
Programs whose focus is for adults aged 55 and older.

» Search for Older Adults services

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People with Disabilities
Branch staff and volunteers offer support, information and education to people with mental illness who also have developmental disabilities.

» Search for People with Disabilities services

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Primary Care
Services that deal with the physical health needs of clients with mental illness.

» Search for Primary Care services

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Self-Help and Peer Support
Branches support consumer-directed, and consumer-driven initiatives, including self-help initiatives, consumer/survivor networks, mentoring and peer partnership programs, facilitated peer support and support groups.

» Search for Self-Help and Peer Support services

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Social Rehabilitation/Recreation
Branch staff and volunteers promote and provide opportunities for a person with a serious mental illness to develop inter-personal, social and leadership skills in order to interact fully in their communities as defined by themselves. A wide variety of programs include social and/or recreational opportunities including drop-in centres, day programs, and leisure activities. Services may include development of linkages with other service providers to maximize oppportunities for social rehabilitation to isolated persons.

» Search for Social Rehabilitation/Recreation services

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Support within Housing
Branch staff and volunteers provide programs that help people with mental illness secure and maintain adequate housing, or outreach programs to reduce homelessness. Branches may also own and operate supportive housing for people with mental illness.

» Search for Support within Housing services

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Training & Professional Development
Education and training focused upon professional development and skills acquisition for those currently working or intending to work in the fields of mental health, mental illness and addiction or anyone working or intending to work with vulnerable clients or populations.

» Search for Training & Professional Development services

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Transportation
Branches may offer transportation services that help people with mental illness travel to appointments, or help incarcerated or institutionalized people with mental illness meet with their families.

» Search for Transportation services

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Vocational / Employment
Branches provide information, support, counselling and skill development for people with mental illness to assist them in acquiring and maintaining employment. Branches also offer support and information for those experiencing stress due to unemployment. Employment programs create job opportunities in the community at large for people with mental illness. Branches also may establish and maintain consumer-operated businesses.

» Search for Vocational / Employment services

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Volunteer Development
Branches offer programs that provide volunteering opportunities and development. Branches train volunteers and offer ongoing skill development and support to their volunteers.

» Search for Volunteer Development services

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Women
Branch staff and volunteers offer programs that focus on women's issues and needs. May be targetted toward women with mental illness, or women with emotional and social stresses.

» Search for Women services

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Youth
Branch staff or volunteers deliver individual and group programs to serve youth with, or at risk of developing, mental illness. May also include going into the community at large to educate youth about issues of mental illness.

» Search for Youth services

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