Active Parenting (4th Edition) is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 2- to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. It is based on the application of Adlerian parenting theory, which is defined by mutual respect among family members within an authoritatively run family. The program teaches parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child’s self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, effective communication, and problem solving. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences and other positive discipline skills to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

Alcohol Literacy Challenge is a brief classroom-based program designed to alter alcohol expectancies and reduce the quantity and frequency of alcohol use among high school and college students. Alcohol expectancies are an individual’s beliefs about the anticipated effects of alcohol use, including those that are positive (e.g., increased sociability, reduced tension) and negative (e.g., impairments to mental and behavioral functioning, increased aggressiveness or risk taking). Some of the most desired effects–the arousing, positive, and prosocial effects–are placebo effects rather than pharmacological ones. ALC aims to correct erroneous beliefs about the effects of alcohol, decreasing positive and increasing negative expectancies. These shifts in expectancies have been shown to predict lower levels of alcohol use.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) comprises five progressive components in which trainees gradually build comfort and understanding around suicide and suicide intervention. ASIST participants learn to:

• Understand attitudes about suicide
• Provide guidance and suicide first aid to a person at risk
• Identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it
• Appreciate the value of improving community suicide prevention resources and
• Recognize important aspects of suicide prevention, including life-promotion and self-care.

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Connect trains professionals and community members to prevent and respond effectively to suicide across the lifespan. The public health, socio-ecological model emphasizes collaboration between service providers. Best practice protocols are provided for each service provider discipline. The training can be customized to meet the needs of a community or organization.

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Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) is a course that explains why means restriction is an important part of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. It will teach you how to ask suicidal patients/clients about their access to lethal means, and work with them and their families to reduce their access.

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Kognito offers a variety of different learning scenarios including but not limited to:

• At-Risk on Campus for Faculty & Students
• At-Risk in the ER
• LGBTQ on Campus for Faculty & Students
• Start the Talk: Underage Drinking and
• Veterans on Campus: Peer Program.

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Late Life Suicide Prevention Toolkit is an educational program developed for use by front-line providers, medical and mental health care clinicians, and health care trainees. It focuses on how to identify suicide warning signs, establish rapport and assess suicide risk and resiliency factors, and manage immediate and ongoing risk for suicide among older adults.

Mental Health First Aid is a certification course that helps people assist an individual experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, one learns about:

• Risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns
• Strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations and
• Where to turn for help

MHFA has several supplemental courses including youth and adolescents, military and veterans, older adults, Spanish, public safety, and higher education.

Country
United States of America

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)  is 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying “Yes” to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. QPR can be learned in as little as one hour.

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Sources of Strength is a comprehensive wellness program that uses the combined power of peer and caring adult relationships to improve social norms, enhance coping and social support, and increase help-seeking behaviors in order to reduce conditions that give rise to suicide and other risk-taking behaviors. Trained teams of adult advisors and a diverse group of peer leaders attempt to impact their local teen and young adult cultures through conversations within their friendship groups and by delivering a series of “Hope, Help, and Strength” messages via:

• Classroom presentations
• Public service announcements
• Posters
• Videos
• The internet and
• Text messaging.

The program is strength-based and promotes eight critical protective factors that are linked to overall psychological wellness and reduced suicide risk. The program can be implemented in schools or colleges, as well as in faith, cultural, and community-based settings.

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Survivor Voices: Sharing the Story of Suicide Loss is a two-day training designed to teach those bereaved by suicide how to speak safely and effectively about their experience and loss. Through the sharing of personal stories, survivors of suicide loss provide insight that goes beyond traditional suicide prevention training. These insights can promote healing for those who are newly bereaved, educate the public about how to support survivors of suicide loss, and increase awareness and understanding of risk factors and warning signs for suicide.

The School’s Mental Wellness Initiative is the most comprehensive education program to address mental wellness in our school districts. The Initiative is a collaboration between various organizations to invest in the mental acuity of students, school staff, and the community. Each organization focuses on their particular expertise, allowing a higher quality of content in each aspect of the program. The Initiative is offered a la carte, so school districts can work with us to provide an experience that is meaningful to you.

Address
American Mental Wellness Association 25 Spruce Road Marysville, PA 17053 USA

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
nfo@AmericanMentalWellness.org

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Veterans Self Help Training Courses is a resource for military and veterans with self-help courses such as Anger & Irritability Management Skills, Moving Forward, Veteran Parenting, and PTSD Online Life coach.

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Working Minds: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace program toolkit features a facilitator’s guide, trainee workbooks, and supplemental materials designed to help workplace administrators and employees better understand and prevent suicide. The program helps workplaces appreciate the critical need for suicide prevention while creating a forum for dialogue and critical thinking about workplace mental health challenges. The program builds a business case for suicide prevention while promoting help-seeking and help-giving. Several interactive exercises and case studies help employers and their staff apply and customize the content to their specific work culture. The training is delivered in a 2 hour version or 4 hour Pro version.

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Affect Science in Medicine is an initiative that seeks to promote scientific excellence in an area considered foundational for psychosomatic medicine while further enhancing the clinical relevance of our research. Six topic areas have been identified:

• Early life adversity and emotions
• Physiological manifestations of emotions
• Implicit measures of affect
• Bidirectional brain-body interactions
• Maladaptive emotion regulation
• Emotion in social relationships

A major goal of this SIG is to generate a separate white paper on each topic. Each white paper will take stock of current knowledge and methods and address the research agenda for the foreseeable future regarding both basic science and clinical applications.

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Special Interest Group aims for an increasing number of researchers to present their work on early life factors affecting developmental and health outcomes. APS members are in a unique position to contribute to this area of research both by virtue of their overall guiding interest in health outcomes and in their diverse set of skills and interests related to the role of early adversity in health and disease outcomes.

Contact Person / Email
Gerry Giesbrecht

The Past Leaders Special Interest Group is a group of previous leaders of the Society provides important perspectives about many relevant issues, including the current state and direction of the Society, its potential future goals, how it might relate to other professional groups. The Past Leaders are encouraged to participate on each of the APS committees. The Past Leaders Special Interest Group meets at a dinner during the Annual Meeting, convenes by conference call at least twice each year, and engages in other business such as nominating individuals for APS awards, or communicating about specific activities by email and use of the APS website.

The Diversity Initiative Group is building success through inclusion by facilitating cross-cultural interactions which promote the APS mission and to attract scientifically minded individuals from diverse cultures recognizing their unique contributions. The Diversity Initiative Group aims to celebrate, not just tolerate, the inclusion of multicultural scientific activities geared toward suppressing health disparities as well as participate in networking opportunities to build effective collaboration with other minority and international organizations

Contact Person / Email
Tené Lewis

The Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) is a diverse and vibrant group of early career members and trainees in psychosomatic medicine. It aims to promote the development of early career members and trainees as scholars and leaders in psychosomatic medicine andto advance APS' research, clinical, and membership goals. The ELI provides leadership, service, and professional development opportunities that will positively impact the research and clinical trajectories of APS early career members and trainees, ultimately helping them to become effective leaders and collaborators in their own fields and within APS. It also aims to activelu contribute in APS by serving on committees and working on and developing new committee-driven and ELI-driven initiatives, ultimately helping to advance APS' research, clinical, and membership goals. The ELI:

• Reviews educational materials and resources to be posted on the website 
• Video records and edits conference presentations 
• Assist with conference programming. In the future
• Engages early career members and trainees, including travel scholarship winners
• Helps increase APS's presence on social media to promote members and highlight relevant news and
• Creates conference programming beneficial to early career members and trainees.

Contact Person / Email
APSEmergingLeaders@gmail.com

The Sexual Minority Health Special Interest Group aims to promote interactions among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer members and their allies in the American Psychosomatic Society for the promotion of collaborations on LGBTQ-related health research to deepen our understanding of sexual minority Health Status Throughout the Life Course.

Contact Person / Email
Eli Puterman

Residents live in individual or shared apartments while participating in a program of therapeutic activities, supportive relationships, and psychiatric treatment. Clinicians often spend time in residents’ homes each day to gain insight that enhances treatment and recovery. For some, this style of residence minimizes the perceived stigma of living in a mental health facility. They provide regular visits from mental health clinicians, location close to a central “therapeutic community” gathering place, have a greater degree of independence than other settings and the nature and degree of clinical treatment varies.

Country
United States of America

Residential psychiatric facilities offer a home-like atmosphere and strong sense of community that help residents build self-esteem, develop relationships, and improve life skills. In clinical residential treatment programs, clinicians can view the full picture of a resident’s functioning and use that perspective and insight to fine-tune psychiatric therapy. They provide intensive, professional mental health treatment provided daily on-premises, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, vocational/educational counseling and support and treatment for co-occurring addictions.

Country
United States of America

Residential treatment communities, residents participate in daily work, which plays a key role in their growth and recovery. Meaningful, necessary work provides tangible results by teaching new skills, building self-esteem, and fostering supportive connections among teammates. These provide a range of therapeutic work opportunities, which may include clerical work, agricultural work, building maintenance and repair, and retail sales,an opportunity to learn skills that can be marketable and a variety of clinical treatment approaches, with some programs offering a rich array of psychiatric therapy services.

Country
United States of America

The family-like atmosphere of group homes is a major therapeutic tool, providing increased quality of life and continued growth. Residential treatment in a group home helps people with psychiatric disorders repair self-esteem, build skills, develop relationships, and learn to manage their mental health symptoms. They provide a stable, long-term living arrangement, clinical treatment may be optional and occurs off-site and th length of stay varies and can be for an extended period.

The Association For Mental Health & Wellness have two Centers for Recovery and Wellness – Pollack Center in Ronkonkoma and Synergy Center in Riverhead. These centres offer services based upon national evidence-based rehabilitation research. Using individual and classroom-based modalities, our well-trained staff engages each participant to identify their own overall recovery goals and the specific barriers that have obstructed his/her path to a happy, healthy, and productive life. These Centers operate under the Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services (PROS) licenses from the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs

The centers assist participants to achieve goals of work, education, social connection, housing, community involvement, and health; overcoming the impact of psychiatric illness and disability that have obstructed these personal goals is a primary focus Such barriers often include learning impairments, substance abuse, physical and health challenges, poverty, homelessness, or family distress. Our Centers actively employ creative and expressive arts, symptom management strategies, adventure-based activities, peer support strategies, and cognitive remediation techniques– are all integral to helping people challenge personal barriers and rebuild their lives in recovery.

Employment & Career Services

The Centre have helped hundreds of people to return to work and school in order to jump-start or resume their careers. Through a range of a range of services offered to help people in recovery, we assist participants to overcome the impact of illness and disability that may have previously obstructed their career path.

Country
United States of America

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The Chemical Free Garden in Ronkonkoma grows vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Twenty three raised garden beds provide fresh lettuces, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, broccoli, squash, eggplant, strawberries, various herbs, and more during the growing season. Grape vines, raspberry and blueberry bushes grow along the back fence. Heirloom seeds are first grown indoors, then transplanted to our garden and fed organic compost and fertilizer. The garden activities also complement other wellness program such as T’ai Chi and Smoking Cessation, where members learn how foods, in tandem with routine exercise and a tobacco-free lifestyle, can help in achieving health goals such as weight loss, increased strength, and endurance.

Contact Person / Email
rmcdade@mhaw.org

Call 631 471 7242

The Association for Mental Health & Wellness have helped hundreds of people to return to work and school in order to jump-start or resume their careers. Through a range of a range of services offered to help people in recovery, we assist particiapants to overcome the impact of illness and disability that may have previously obstructed their career path. Their staff assists participants to use the strengths and skills that gained from life experiences to address these barriers so they can pursue a job with pride and confidence.

• Center-based Services: centers allow participants to brush-up on skills through work-ordered units and activities while using rehabilitation tools to chart their course to employment. Our centers offer computer-based technologies for assessment, skill-building, and resource acquisition.
• Job Development/Job Finding: securing a job that matches your preferences and workplace needs is challenging but critical for long term success. Our agency connects with small and large businesses in the community to identify employers with opportunities and a positive workplace culture. Working with our Business Advisory Council, we are able to help our participants to find fulfilling work.
• Flexible Coaching & Support: MHAW offers on and off-site support and coaching. Whether at the workplace, a breakfast or lunch spot, at our offices or by phone, we can design your support contacts to meet the employee’s needs and schedule.
• Entitlements Planning & Management: the complicated maze of SSI, SSD, and Public Assistance rules can sometimes make returning to work treacherous. Our employment staff will help participants to understand and manage the impact of earnings on their financial situation.
• Cognitive Remediation: the cognitive remediation program is a State-wide leader in integrating the use of computer-based strategies to improve memory, concentration, organization and other functions that have been impaired by illness, and medication.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations: should employees choose to disclose their disability to their employer, we can help to consider and negotiate reasonable workplace accommodations – most of which pose no cost to employers – that can make employees more productive, valuable, and satisfied.
• Peer Support & Celebration: MHAW have regular dinner meetings at local restaurants for the purpose of support, getting ideas from others in recovery about achieving success, and for celebrating those successes.
• Supported Education & Career Development: MHAW's Centers have relationships with local schools, colleges, and universities and can provide you with information, connections, and the coaching necessary to overcome long-standing challenges. This includes learning issues, decision-making skills, anxiety reduction, financial planning, time management, and more.

Country
United States of America

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Family support groups are recognized by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an evidence-based practice that offers hope, guidance, advocacy, and camaraderie for parents and caregivers of adults receiving services from mental health, substance use, and related service systems. Family support is a great means for families to gain awareness and guidance for supporting their loved one, such as:

• Understanding of the core concepts and experience of recovery
• Instruction about treatment, rehabilitation, peer support, and self-care regimens that serve to safely sustain family members– and prevent relapse –in recovery at home and in the community.
• Development and enhancement of the family’s specific problem-solving skills and coping mechanisms.
• Connection to key community and learning resources

The goal of family support is to help the family adapt to the impact of mental illness on the entire family, to acquire new coping skills, and to regain a new and positive family life.

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
qregula@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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Food pantries provide packages of food to hundreds of families and individuals. The pantries are managed and run by our members and volunteer Veterans who gain valuable work experience. They help meet the great need that exists for access to nutritional foods and household items.

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Healing Connections Peer Support Groups were created for and by people who experience emotional distress, voices and visions, extreme and/or altered states of consciousness, labels of psychiatry, substance use, and trauma/trauma responses. We come together to share information, hope, joys, fears, successes, and hardships in the “most” safe space we co-create to mutually support, heal, and grow together. We all are collectively responsible for the comfort of our group!

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
healingconnections@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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Healing Connections a support group for and by people who experience emotional distress, voices and visions, extreme and altered states of consciousness, labels of psychiatry, substance use, and trauma/trauma responses. Healing Connections Peer Support Groups were created for and by people who experience emotional distress, voices and visions, extreme and altered states of consciousness, labels of psychiatric diagnosis, substance use, and trauma/trauma responses. We come together to share information, hope, joys, fears, successes, and hardships in the ‘most’ safe space we co-create to mutually support, heal, and grow together. We all are collectively responsible for the comfort of our group! Healing Connections’ facilitators are trained Peer Specialist, who have their own experience with emotional distress. The facilitators are there to guide the support group and offer peer support.

Country
United States of America

Call 631-471-7242

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The New York State’s Supportive Case Management Program as part of the Governor’s Medicaid Redesign Taskforce. It moved oversight of Health Home Care Management (HHCM) from the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This change in oversight shifted our program. Working in collaboration with Hudson River Health, MHAW helps eligible clients with serious mental illness, HIV/AIDS, or two or more other serious and chronic physical, psychiatric, or substance abuse health conditions. Based in Riverhead and Ronkonkoma, our HHCM program supports clients by way of a team approach. Each team consists of three to five staff members: a Master’s-level Team Leader/Supervisor and two to four Bachelor’s-level Care Managers. An additional team provides outreach and engagement services to people in hospitals, referred by community agencies, families, health and behavioral health providers, and other human and social services. Their care managers connect with people in their homes, at community venues, and in facilities in communities across Suffolk County. The effectiveness and quality of services provided by our HHCM program are monitored by the NYSDOH.

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
lwiggins@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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MHAW’s Children’s Care Management Program is designed to align with the three core goals of the Governor’s Medicaid Redesign Taskforce to improve care and health outcomes, reduce preventable emergency room visits and hospitalizations & lower cost of healthcare and social services. This is achieved by emphasizing care coordination and care management for all children with physical and behavioral health needs. Care Managers assist children with physical and behavioral health challenges to access and coordinate all of their healthcare and social service needs. Services include:

• Develop a personal plan to meet one’s physical, mental health, chemical dependency, and social service needs.
• Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the ongoing effectiveness of the child’s care.
• Provide follow-up from inpatient and emergency room care to help prevent re-admissions.
• Assist children and families with access to important resources such as public assistance, housing, child care, food pantries, transportation, and more.
• Provide physical and behavioral health education and support for the child, their family members, and other caregivers.
• Ensure that all providers share vital information electronically to ensure the most safe and effective services.

Care managers work in teams to connect with children in their homes and at healthcare, education and social service sites across Suffolk County. Our teams also reach out to engage children and their families in hospitals and those referred by community agencies, families, schools, health/behavioral health providers, and other social services. The effectiveness and quality of services provided by our program are monitored by the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
kmartin@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) are individualized, focused services designed to assist people in recovery with mental health and/or addiction challenges to achieve short and long-term goals. By achieving these goals, the person can expect longer-term, improved health and a network of support to sustain it.

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
kgraziano@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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The Housing Mediation program helps residents living in mental health housing to resolve conflicts with their roommate(s) and/or with a housing agency. We guide the involved parties toward a mutually accepted agreement with the goal of assisting people to preserve their housing. We offer workshops on communications skills, support towards resolution, and information concerning individual rights.
 

Contact Person / Email
shopkins-ouedraogo@mhaw.org

Call 631 226 3900

The Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project provides Veteran-led peer support groups at sites across Suffolk County. 

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
vetspeertopeer@suffolkcountyny.gov

Call (631) 853-8345

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MHAW’s Mental Health Helpline is available to all Suffolk County Residents who require help in finding and accessing assistance for themselves, for a friend, or a family member. We provide information and referrals to community resources for persons living with mental illness, their families, and service providers. When a Mental Health Helpline call is received, a brief assessment will be conducted with the individual caller so they can be linked to an appropriate resource. When needed, callers may be provided with additional advocacy through direct phone calls to other service providers to arrange for appropriate services.

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
helpline@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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The Mental Health Professional Training program offers workshops that respond to the current needs of our professional community. Topics have included:

• Best practices for working with Veterans
• How to best serve children of immigrant families, and
• Arange of clinical services pertaining to children and familie

The Association for Mental Health and Wellness is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board of Mental Health Professionals to provide Continuing Education Hours for professionals: Workshop may range from three hours to full day conferences. These workshops help to keep Long Island professionals informed of the most current and effective practices.

Contact Person / Email
arodgers@mhaw.org

Call 631 471 7242

Peer Support Line is for and by people who experience emotional distress, voices and visions, extreme and altered states of consciousness, labels of psychiatry, substance use, and trauma/trauma responses. The Peer Support Line Peer Specialists is trained by Careers in Recovery and Wellness Training Center (click here for more information) and have accomplished their New York Peer Specialist Certification. The Peer Support Line offers one-to-one telephone mutual support, an empathetic, listening ear, and conversations for connecting, sharing, supporting, and vibing.

Contact:
Tracy Puglisi
Coordinator of Peer Recovery and Wellness Education

631-471-7242 x 1302

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
tpuglisi@mhaw.org

Call 631-471-7242

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The Association for Mental Health and Wellness, a NY Project Hope local crisis counseling provider, helps Suffolk County residents understand their reaction and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an emotional support helpline, educational materials, and trusted referrals, NY Project Hope provides support so that people can manage the changes brought on by COVID-19.

Whether you want to learn about reliable community resources, or you just want to talk . . . maybe it’s both. Whatever it is that you need as you work to navigate your way through these very unusual times, we are here for you during COVID-19. If you decide to call our Emotional Support Helpline, you will reach someone who has been trained to hear what you are saying and give you the kind of support that works best for you during the pandemic . . . whether it’s coping strategies, resources or a chance to talk.  The call is always free, confidential, and anonymous.

Country
United States of America

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A Recovery Center is a peer-run program activities that are designed to help individuals with one or more psychiatric diagnoses to live, work and fully participate in communities. These activities are based on the principle that people who share common conditions or experiences can be of substantial assistance to each other. Specific program activities are designed to:

• Build on existing best practices in self-help, peer support, and mutual support;
• Assist individuals in identifying, remembering, or discovering their own passions in life;
• Provide individual, peer mentoring services to connect people who have rejected “formal” behavioral health services;
• Offer services geared to engage people with psychiatric disabilities into employment, education, and career development, and;
• Support individuals in linking to community groups, organizations, networks or places that will nurture and feed an individual’s passions in life.
• Social, recreation events with a focus on community participation opportunities will be the basis for exposing individuals to potential passion areas through dynamic experiences, in contrast to traditional lectures and presentations.

MHAW’s Recovery Center seeks to engage people who are often disengaged by formal mental health system programs but who live with risk factors that may lead them to prescription drug/substance abuse, emergency rooms, and hospital settings. The Center’s focus is on an individual’s strengths and interest rather than traditional labels and diagnoses. The program serves as a peer-run community-learning center for advancing the power and impact of peer-to-peer relationships and Certified Peer Specialist practice.

Address
1380 Roanoke Ave. Riverhead, NY 11901

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
rceast@mhaw.org

Call 631-369-4418

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Address
1380 Roanoke Avenue, 1st Floor Riverhead, NY 11901

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
lschagter@mhaw.org

Call (631) 369-0022

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Address
939 Johnson Avenue Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Country
United States of America

Contact Person / Email
jforrest@mhaw.org

Call (631) 471-7242

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MHAW offers speakers on a variety of topics concerning mental health challenges and mental illnesses. Topics can include:

• Suicide Prevention
• Mental Health First Aid (How to intervene when someone shows signs of a MH condition)
• Workplace Wellness
• Myths and Realities About Mental Illness and Recovery
• Dual Disorders: Mental Illness and Substance Use and Abuse
• Mental Health Challenges Beneath Physical Health Conditions
• How to Get Help When Your Loved One Has A Mental Illness

Contact:
Alexis Rodgers, LMSW
Coordinator for Community Outreach & Education

ext.1315

Contact Person / Email
arodgers@mhaw.org

Call 631 471 7242

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The supportive housing program provides dignified homes for 20 people who are in recovery from mental illness. Our houses and apartments are located in Brookhaven, Islip and Riverhead townships. Participation in our program includes helping people achieve the highest level of independence possible with the skills and supports that will allow them to consider opportunities for higher levels of financial independence and asset development.

Contact Person / Email
mseiferth@mhaw.org

Call 631 4717242

The Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Alliance has been established to facilitate integrated working between the voluntary and statutory sectors, support a two way flow of information between communities, the VCSE sector and policy leads, amplify the voice of the VCSE sector and people with lived experience to inform national policy and facilitate co-produced solutions to promote equality and reduce health inequalities.The HW Alliance is jointly managed by the Department of Health (DH), Public Health England (PHE), and NHS England, and is made up of 21 VCSE Members that represent communities who share protected characteristics or that experience health inequalities. Through their networks HW Alliance Members can link with communities and VCSE organisations across England.

The Consortia links strategically to undertake specific agreed work programmes aimed at benefiting the strategic development of the mental health voluntary sector. The Association has been working in partnership with organisations across the voluntary and community sector to identify opportunities for improvement in mental health service provision. The objectives of the Programme are to:

• Encourage co-production in the creation of person-centred, community-based health and care which promotes equality for all;
• Enable the voice of people with lived experience and those experiencing health inequalities to inform national policy making and shape the delivery of services;
• Build evidence of sustainable, scalable solutions to mitigate and prevent inequalities impacting on the health and wellbeing of communities.

The Programme will seek to achieve its objectives through two co-dependent funded mechanisms: a national partnership arrangement: the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance; and funding for bespoke projects: the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund.

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The Mental Health Recovery Star was developed as an outcome measure to enable people using services to work with their service provider to measure their own recovery progress. The ‘Star’ contains ten areas covering the main aspects of people’s lives, including living skills, relationships, work and identity and self-esteem. Service users set their personal goals within each area and measure over time how far they are progressing towards these goals. This can help them identify their goals and what support they need to reach them, and ensure they are making progress, however gradual, which itself can encourage hope. The Recovery Star enables staff to support individuals they work with to understand their recovery and plot their progress. The Recovery Star also enables organisations to measure and assess the effectiveness of the services they deliver.

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The Disability Action Plan is a comprehensive plan to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand is fully responding to its obligations under the Convention for the Rights of People with Disabilities. The four most important issues that Balance New Zealand advocate for are:

• The need for a comprehensive review of the Mental Health Act
• Ending the practice of seclusion in mental health services
• The need to address the physical health needs of those treated 
• The need to address both overt and covert systemic stigma and abuse 

The Living Well Booklet has been compiled for the information of those who suffer from bipolar disorder and their families and friends.

Be You provides educators with knowledge, tools and resources to create positive, inclusive and responsive learning communities where every child, young person, educator and family is empowered to achieve their best possible mental health.

Country
Australia

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Beyond Blue acknowledges the Land on which our head office is based has deep connections to peoples and cultures across the Eastern Kulin Nation. As such we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this area, the Wurundjeri Peoples, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. As an organisation with national reach, we extend our respect to all Elders and First Nations Peoples across Australia.

• Reconciliation Action Plan
• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
• Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• Wellmob
• Australian Indigenous HealthInfo Network
• Counselling Online

Country
Australia

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NewAccess mental health coaching could be right for you if you’re looking for affordable therapy to manage stress and worries. It is free of charge and requires no GP referral. Working one-on-one with a mental health coach over 6 sessions, you’ll learn practical strategies to manage stressors such as:?

• coping with stress and anxiety - including study and work stress or increasing motivation at work
• life changes – moving house, changing jobs, becoming a parent or losing someone close
• sleep or concentration issues 
• natural disasters – recovering from fires and floods
• financial worries.

NewAccess isn’t right for you if you’re in crisis or currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. To find other support options, talk to your GP or visit Get mental health support.

Country
Australia

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Country
Australia

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Good work helps mental health and wellbeing. It can contribute to your daily activity. Your sense of purpose. Your income. And your social connection. But poor working conditions can harm your mental health and wellbeing.

Country
Australia

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The Cape Town International Kite Festival brings together people from around the world in a celebration of kiting and creativity, to generate funds for Cape Mental Health, raises awareness of the importance of mental health and highlights the link between physical and mental well-being.

Address
22 Ivy Street, Observatory South Africa

Contact Person / Email
info@cmh.org.za

Call + 27 (21) 447 9040

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Integrated Social work services are offered throughout the Cape Town area. These services include awareness raising and prevention, early intervention, statutory services (as determined by the Mental Health Care act of 2002) and reintegration services to individuals, groups and at community level.

• Individual counselling services:improve knowledge and understanding and assist with access to services, resources and opportunities; equip families with the skills necessary to cope with a family member who has a mental disability; develop skills to cope with the stresses of daily life; improve insight and promote responsible self-reliant behaviour; help families cope with challenging behaviour more effectively; and disability Grant Administration for people with mental disabilities.
• Group work services: life skills training with people with mental disabilities to enable them to accept themselves, relate to others positively and solve problems independently; carers support groups to equip parents and carers with knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to the challenges of their children and people with mental disabilities; short-term groups focusing either on sexuality and lifeskills, substance abuse and other social skills needed
• Community Work services: wellness Events to enhance mental health of the community, clients & caregivers; information tables, exhibitions and mental health presentations to educate the public about mental health and the services of Cape Mental Health; rural Outreach – Capacity building of relevant role-players in the mental health field with respect to mental health issues in rural communities; capacity building of SAPS officials with respect to mental health issues; schools Programme to empower educators and learners to identify and deal with mental health problems and access services where necessary

Most of these services are offered free or at a nominal cost, and we depend on concerned individuals and businesses for the funds we need to continue. 
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The Employee Assistance Programme works with Companies to strengthen staff's ability to cope with the challenges of modern life, enhances work-place well-being, promotes a work/life balance, and improves productivity. Partnering your EAP strategy with Cape Mental Health makes the following services easily accessible – at affordable rates:

• A skilled team of registered professionals
• Communication in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa
• Telephonic and on-site/off-site availability
• Individual & family sessions on an appointment basis
• Trauma intervention at short notice
• Confidential assessments & counselling
• Treatment planning and referrals
• Health information & wellness education
• Short-term problem solving / facilitating change
• Follow-up & support
• Managerial/staff training to assist employees that are having life challenges
• The back-up of a registered, well-resourced organisation

This programme addresses family problems such as marital conflict, divorce, abuse, illness or death; relationship problems; financial difficulties; alcohol/drug dependence or a gambling addiction; crises in the home; psychological issues such as depression and anxiety; health problems; and other personal concerns which may adversely affect employee ability and job performance. Although EAP should not be seen as a refuge for disciplinary hearings, employers are expected to provide assistance to employees before they proceed with disciplinary procedures. Cape Mental Health runs awareness, education, counselling and training programmes aimed at helping people enjoy good mental health. Most of these programmes and services are offered free of charge.

Contact Person / Email
Vimla@cmh.org.

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Fountain House is a community based rehabilitation centre that plays a vital role in the lives of people living with psychiatric disabilities. It creates opportunities for them to begin the journey of recovery, find meaning in life and actively contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of each other and their families. The aim is to enable persons living with psychiatric disabilities to ultimately become reintegrated into society and the workplace. This is achieved through participation and training in four work units at the centre: administration, catering, a paper making workshop, and the employment/communications unit. Persons attending Fountain House benefit from:

• A work-ordered day programme, where they receive "on-the-job" training in a variety of skills through their involvement in the activities of the work units at the centre
• Exposure to employment and/or income generating opportunities, such as the Transitional Employment Programme (TEP), supported employment opportunities, independent work placements, learnerships and further education and training;
• Training in computer and internet skills, assistance with CV creation, development of interview skills, career guidance, education about employment rights and micro business training including business plan preparation
• Greater insight into their psychiatric disabilities
• Poverty alleviation initiatives including balanced, nutritional meals at a low cost and opportunities to buy clothing at a reduced rate;
• Social and recreational programmes to enhance social competencies and social networks.  This is done through monthly social events, birthday parties, a varied afternoon programme and an annual holiday.

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Cape Mental Health is committed to creating awareness and improving public attitudes towards those with mental disabilities, as well as reducing the stigma associated with these disabilities. Information about intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and mental health is provided to the broader community through talks and presentations. We hold Open Days, exhibitions and run information tables at various events to promote awareness of the services we offer.

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Kimber House is an opportunity for people with psychosocial disabilities to live independently, while still being able to depend on the support, assistance and protection of a more structured environment. Kimber House is a Supported Accommodation Programme, providing a safe, secure, comfortable, supportive and affordable home environment to 11 adults with a psychiatric disability. Their aim is to:

• Build capacity through participation in menu planning, budgeting, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and conflict resolution among the residents.
• Encourage shared responsibility in decision-making, through participation in house meetings, annual policy reviews & strategic planning and the selection of new residents.
• Increase social involvement through organised house events, social & recreational activities in the community, and access to the social and recreational programme at Fountain House.
• Provide continuous support & individual case management for each member, participation in goal setting and life skill activities at Fountain House.
• Provide access to educational & training activities at Fountain House, to increase knowledge & skill of members. 

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Higher functioning trainees from Training Workshops Unlimited and members from Fountain House are prepared for the open labour market via learnership opportunities and assistance with finding suitable employment. The focus is on the individual's ability. Learners are supported by their allocated job coaches during theoretic activities, practical placements and during employment. The programme embodies:

• Securing opportunities for those able to develop and progress beyond workshop level.
• Preparation training for open labour market employment.
• Accredited Career Skills Training, including Hygiene and Cleaning (NQF Level 1) and Business Administration (NQF Level 2).
• HIV/AIDS and Sexuality Education.
• Health and Safety Training in the workplace.
• Life Skills training with emphasis on building self esteem and confidence in the workplace environment and in social settings.
• Assessments on all training modules and building of Portfolios of Evidence.
• Practical Work Placements during skills training programmes and Learnerships.
• Job Coaching by skilled and experienced staff.
• Counseling.
• Placement in the Open Labour Market and ongoing support and follow–up by Job Coaches.
• Employer Education and de-stigmatization of persons with disability within the workplace.

MindMatters is a Comprehensive School Mental Health Promotion Project that is being implemented with the learners of Ocean View and Zeekoevlei Secondary Schools.Although based on the Australian school mental health programme, MindMatters has been adapted to address social issues such as poverty, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy etc. that affect youth in South Africa. Regular surveys are conducted with all the learners to determine their psycho-social needs. Once a month, the Social Worker implements the MindMatters Toolkit in Grades 8-11, highlighting issues identified in the surveys. Follow up lessons are conducted by Life Orientation teachers, who incorporate the Toolkit information into their sessions. Once a month, workshops and awareness sessions are conducted with the grade 12 learners, focussing on the issues identified in the surveys. These classroom based activities are designed to:

• Create an environment conducive to promoting psycho-social competence and well-being
• Influence curriculum teaching and learning
• Influence the school ethos and environment
• Provide a class based interactive mental health education programme

The programme also aims to establish partnerships and services which will link the school to resources that will best support the learners. Individual Counselling Services are offered to learners who need confidential face to face counselling. The social worker will refer learners to other organisations in the community should a need arise. 

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Mental Health Awareness Month focuses on more than just the absence of mental illness; but rather all the factors which contribute to mental wellbeing and promote resilience to stress, anxiety and other negative influences. Details for the annual campaign become available closer to October when it occurs.

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Psychiatric Disability Awareness Month focuses on the accomplishments, challenges and human rights issues of people with a Psychiatric Disability. Psychiatric Disability Awareness Month is held annually in July.

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The Rainbow Foundation comprises 25 psychosocial rehabilitation groups in the Cape Metro area for persons with a psychiatric disability. Groups meet weekly in community facilities such as civic centres, library halls, clinics and cultural centres, for mutual social support and opportunities for recreation, skills development, participation in income-generating projects, temporary employment opportunities and the development of support networks. They monitor individuals' mental state and provide support for families through the presentation of Family Workshops. Meetings with group leaders are held monthly, and we liaise regularly with role players within the mental health field and the disability sector to provide a valuable and much needed service to people living with psychiatric disability.

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CMH povides tailor-made programme designed to address issues of mental health in schools. The programme aims to empower educators and learners to identify and deal with mental health problems and access services where necessary. Learners and educators are taught to identify symptoms of mental distress and develop coping skills and resources so that they can enjoy good mental health.

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CAMH's Addiction Services offers specialized treatment options to meet the unique needs of all CAMH clients with drug, alcohol, gambling or other addiction issues. Taking into consideration the different treatment needs of the communities we serve, the Addictions Program offers a range of services to meet those needs.  

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CAMH’s Toronto Adult Neurodevelopmental Services provides services to individuals aged 16 to 60 who have an intellectual disability with mental health concerns and/or severe challenging behaviours or Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The offer highly specialized interprofessional time-limited assessments and treatments to clients, their families and care providers. The goal is to support the individual to live in the community during and after treatment. The new name reflects the variety of neurodevelopmental challenges faced by the evolving client population. Clinics/Pathways include:

• Psychiatric Consultation Clinic – provides assessment and recommendations to referring physicians.
• Medication Consultation Clinic – provides medication only consultation.
• High Functioning Autism Pathway – provides assessment, and limited group treatment
• Inter-professional Assessment and Treatment Pathway – provides assessment and treatment
• Intensive Intervention Pathway – provides assessment and treatment
• Brief Intervention Unit – Inpatient Pathway –provides interprofessional assessment and intervention.  The duration of this service is 4-8 weeks in length.  The pathway to the Brief Intervention Inpatient Unit is through the Toronto Adult Neurodevelopmental Services.

Address
1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON. M6J 1H4 Canada

Call 416 535 8501

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Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO is an organisation that works on the implementation, evaluation and knowledge translation of established Best Practice Guidelines. Best Practice Guidelines and recommendations that are implementing were selected based on an alignment with CAMH’s strategic priorities, values, as well as short and longer term clinical needs.  These Guidelines were implemented through our BPSO Champions team as well as pilot testing on individual units:

• Client Centred Care &Supporting and Strengthening Families through Expected and Unexpected Life Events
• Assessment and Care for Adults at Risk for Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour
• Enhancing Healthy Adolescent Development
• Integrating Smoking Cessation into Daily Nursing Practice
• Assessment and Management of Pain
• Embracing Cultural Diversity in Healthcare: Developing Cultural Competency
• Preventing and Managing Violence in the Workplace

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CAMH's Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Clinic offers group treatment providing training in Dialectical Behavior Treatment (DBT) to help people who have BPD make positive changes in their lives. The clinic is currently offering 24 week skills groups. This treatment is 24-week groups (two hours, once weekly) that provides training in Dialectical Behavior Treatment (DBT) to help people who have BPD make positive changes in their lives.  To be eligible for this treatment you must have a therapist in the community who you are seeing at a minimum every few weeks, who agrees to provide support to you during the group treatment.  Individuals first attend an assessment meeting to confirm the group treatment will be helpful for their individual needs. 

The DBT Skills Group is like taking a course in school. Every week you will start by reviewing homework from the last week, and then you will learn about new skills. Four main modules will be taught:

• Mindfulness: how to focus your attention on the present moment
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to get what you want from people, in a way that makes them want to give it to you 
• Distress Tolerance: how to survive crises and get through really painful moments, without making them worse 
• Emotion Regulation: how to get more control over your emotions, and how to get more positive and less negative emotions in your life 

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CAMH is one of the largest hospitals in North America for people with mental illness. We are an acknowledged world leader in brain science. Each year, we provide exceptional care for more than 28,000 patients and respond to 500,000 outpatient visits. We inspire change in the mental health field through the professionals we train, the knowledge we share, and in the modern facilities we are building: embedded in the community and open to the world.

Address
100 Stokes Street, 5th Floor Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada

Contact Person / Email
foundation@camh.ca

Call 1 800 414 0471

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The Child, Youth and Emerging Adult Service is a professional health care team includes psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, child and youth workers, therapists and others that works with and welcome clients from all backgrounds and cultures. In addition to our clinical services, we are involved in research, education, prevention and health promotion for child and youth mental health and addictions. The Child, Youth and Family Service is committed to client-centred care, providing intensive and specialized services for young people with mental health and/or addiction problems. they provide comprehensive assessments, medication consultations, individual and family therapy, specialized treatment groups for children and youth who have problems with mental health, substance use and/or other addictions, day treatment and school programs, parenting programs offering information, education and support, prevention services, including group programs in the community, as well as information and education sessions and consultation on diagnostic and treatment issues for primary care physicians and other health care professionals. The offer several outpatient services, each staffed by a team of health care professionals. They are:

• Youth Justice Clinic
• Better Behaviours Service
• Mood and Anxiety Disorders Service
• Psychiatric Consultation Service
• Psychotic Disorders Service
• Substance Abuse Program for Afro-Canadian & Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY)
• Youth Addiction & Concurrent Disorders Service

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health supports a continuum of clinical outreach services throughout the province, with a focus on underserved northern and / or rural communities. There are three integrated components of this clinical outreach service including fly-in and drive-in psychiatry services; telemental health and; clinical capacity building for primary care providers. They have worked with our regional partners to integrate these services. There objectives are to increase access to mental health care, contribute to improved health system integration, provide best quality and continuity of care for patients and build local collaboration and capacity Other CAMH outreach services include: 

• Telemental health
• Integrated Collaborative Care
• E-consults
• ECHO Ontario Mental Health. 

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The Complex Mental Illness Service focuses on clients with serious and persistent mental illness, including schizophrenia and mood disorders. The program includes inpatient, acute/crisis, rehabilitation, outpatient, partial hospital and forensic services.

• Community Treatment Order (CTO) Coordination
• Downtown Central Clinics
• Downtown East Clinics
• Downtown West Clinics
• Early Psychosis Unit
• ENCORE
• Focus on Youth Psychosis Prevention (FYPP) Clinic
• General Psychiatric Unit (GPU)
• Inpatient Care Schizophrenia
• Integrated Rehab Unit (1-4)
• Medication Assessment Program for Schizophrenia (MAPS)
• Mental Health and Metabolism Clinic
• Partial Hospital Program
• Acute Care Unit B
• School Program – TDSB High School (TDSS Classroom)
• Shared Care Outreach
• Adult Neurodevelopmental Services

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CAMH's 24/7 Psychiatric Emergency Department provides 24 hour/7 days per week emergency assessment and treatment for adults with mental health and substance use issues.It:

• Provides extended observation, assessment and treatment services to adults assessed in the Emergency Service or those who are awaiting an inpatient bed.
• Works collaboratively with other hospital emergency and community mental health services to achieve client-centred care.

Address
250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada

Call 416 979 6885

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CAMH provides a variety of programs and services for families of people with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Unless indicated otherwise, these services are open to families beyond CAMH. These include:

• Support Groups for Families:  a number of support and education groups for families at our various sites, tailored to the nature of the loved one’s illness.
• Family Centre: Family Resource Centre within the Office of Family Engagement to find information about mental health and addiction, important links to the hospital and the community, borrow books, use a computer, relax and let children play in a safe space. 
• Events of interest to Families: CAMH’s Calendar of Events includes events of special interest to families and friends. CAMH’s Education Program provides opportunities for families to learn more about mental illness and addictions.
• Education Program: CAMH’s Education Program provides opportunities for families to learn more about mental illness and addictions, such as the Mental Health 101 online education series.
• Information and booklets for clients, families and friends

Contact Person / Email
familyengagement@camh.ca

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This is a new full-spectrum forensic psychiatry third-party referral clinic offered at CAMH within the Work Stress and Health program.  It is a multidisciplinary clinic, drawing on the expertise of forensic psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. The types of forensic psychiatry assessments that will be carried out include violence Risk Assessments (general, sexual, domestic, stalking, threat and workplace), psychopathy Assessments, malingering Assessments, criminal Responsibility Assessments, pre-sentence/Disposition Assessments, dangerous Offender and Long-term Offender Assessments, capacity Assessments (Professional Misconduct, Carry Firearm, etc.) and civil Assessments (Fitness for Duty, Disability Evaluations, etc.). The Psycholegal Clinic is only able to accept third party psycholegal assessment requests. ms. 

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CAMH's Geriatric Mental Health Services (GMHS) is dedicated to the provision of specialized, interprofessional assessment, treatment, consultation and follow-up services to older persons with mental health concerns, with or without addiction issues. The service has both outpatient and inpatient departments.

• Inpatient Services: the focus of Inpatient Services is acute stabilization of symptoms and active treatment utilizing interprofessional approaches that integrate mental health and addictions with geriatric perspectives. There are two Geriatric Admission Units, GAU-A and GAU-B, located in the Intergenerational Wellness Centre with a total of 48 inpatient beds: GAU-A (2nd floor) is a 23-bed unit and GAU-B (3rd floor) has 25 beds. Both floors have a mix of acute and medium-stay clients. Client who require an admission to an inpatient bed are generally triaged through our Central Intake Service and then admitted to an available bed. 
• Geriatric Mental Health Outpatient Services (formerly PACE): the Outpatient clinics provide evidence-based assessment and psychogeriatric consultation for clients over age 60 experiencing impairments related to mood, psychotic and memory disorders.  Examples of these conditions include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and dementia.  Other concerns related to grief or concurrent addiction issues can also be addressed.
• Community-based outreach teams also provide a range of services to seniors in long-term care homes and occasionally their home environment in the Greater Toronto and Peel areas.
• The clinics also provide consultation to community agencies; advocacy, education and support to the clients' family members; and community education.

Address
Intergenerational Wellness Centre, 80 Workman Way, Queen Street Site between Shaw Street and Ossington Avenue

Call 416 535- 8501

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An integrated care pathway (ICP) is a new approach at CAMH to treating a person who needs help. That person needs to see the right people, in the right order, in the right place, at the right time. An ICP makes sure this happens, by identifying a care team of different professionals and mapping out the treatment process from start to finish. An ICP puts the person at the centre of all their care, which results in better care. ICPs have been used in some parts of the medical system for several decades. but it is only recently that they been developed for mental health and addictions care. CAMH launched its first pathways, including the ICP for treating depression and alcohol dependence, in 2013. Now there are eight pathways, with more being developed bipolar Disorder, dementia Agitation and Aggression (Inpatient), early Psychosis Unit (Inpatient), first Episode Psychosis Clinic (Outpatient), late Life Schizophrenia, major Depression and Alcohol Dependence and schizophrenia (Inpatient)

Integrated care pathways put the focus on the patient’s overall journey, get patients the right care and treatment at the right time, make sure that care decisions are based on evidence, make sure that different members of a care team (e.g., physician, nurse, pharmacist, social worker) work together effectively and empower and inform patients and their carers. The patient is at the centre of the team. Around them is a group of professionals communicating with each other about the treatment plan. The core members of a team will depend on the pathway a patient is on, but may include a physician, nurse, pharmacist, recreation therapist, social worker and others. If it would be helpful to a particular patient, other professionals might also be involved. All care pathways include at least two areas of treatment: medication, and non-medication treatment such as psychotherapy (see the map of the treatment process below). The teamwork between physicians and other clinicians is a real benefit to patients, and allows the treatment to hit the ground running.

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CAMH's New Beginnings Clinic provides psychiatric consultation and possible brief culturally sensitive interventions to newly arrived refugees, as well as case consultation for care providers. CAMH and the Crossroads Clinic at Women’s College Hospital have been working together to find ways to respond to the mental health needs of Syrian newcomers during and after the resettlement surge. In March 2016, CAMH launched a refugee mental health and wellness service called the New Beginnings Clinic.  While this service was developed in response to the resettlement surge of Syrian people, services will not be restricted to this group but will be available to all refugees in their first two years in Toronto. The service has two components:

• Case consultation - provides primary care providers with access to psychiatrists and social workers for discussion and advice on client/patient cases.
• Psychiatric consultation and, when appropriate, brief culturally sensitive interventions for newly arrived refugees (eg., GARs, PSRs  and refugee claimants) with psychological issues or concerns.  

Case consultation provided in component #1 may result in a recommendation for psychiatric consultation and brief culturally sensitive intervention in the CAMH service.  

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Office of Transformative Global Health

International Health Programs, otherwise referred to as the Office of Transformative Global Health, aims to jointly develop, implement, and sustain collaborative programs for health professionals, and allied professionals, in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa; with a primary focus on capacity building, continuing professional clinical and health promotion education/training programs. The objective is to strengthen the capacity of partners in the developing world to provide improved care and more effectively evaluate clinical and health promotion outcomes of mental health and addictions interventions.

The program also organizes exchange programs and study visits for health professionals from a variety of disciplines and plans for academic outcomes of all international health initiatives through in-depth evaluation as well as support for local evaluative research, academic debate, publication and dissemination. The Office of Transformative Global Health also provides available technical expertise in response to requests from international bodies (especially PAHO) and national institutions.

The ACTION program allows between 20-25 international medical graduates to secure observerships at CAMH each year. These provide a window on Canadian clinical practices for foreign trained physicians seeking entry into medicine in Ontario. Each year, the partners of the various initiatives abroad are also invited to CAMH to share their local challenges, expertise and innovation with staff and stakeholders of CAMH. The director also teaches 2 graduate courses on international health, within public health sciences, as an academic component of the work.

Address
Rm. 4082, Russell Street site Canada

Call 416 535 8501

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Portico is a network of addiction and mental health sites from across Canada. Portico offers clinical tools and evidence-based materials for health care providers, social service workers and others. While the resources on the core Portico pages are designed for professional use, they can be of equal interest to those with lived experience and their families. Portico hosts partner sites that are built and run by other groups and networks. They are editorially independent of the main site, with a variety of perspectives. Portico's search engine includes our partners and a wide range of external addiction and mental health sites to help you find what you need.

Address
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 33 Russell Street Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S1 Canada

Contact Person / Email
portico@camh.ca

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The Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health brings treatment professionals and leading researchers together with experts in communicating and sharing knowledge. Our focus is on collaboratively developing, modelling and sharing evidence-based solutions to gambling related problems, within Ontario and around the world.

• Clinical Service: The PGIO has the largest specialized gambling treatment program in Ontario. Those in the Toronto area who are affected by their own problematic gambling or that of a family member can participate in clinical programs that have been designed with their needs in mind. Our program includes specialized services for women, youth, older adults and ethno-cultural communities. In partnership with other organizations, we fund and train practitioners to provide problem gambling treatment and outreach in 17 languages. Psychiatric and other clinical consultations are available to treatment professionals who have clients with complex gambling problems, including other mental health and addiction issues. 
• Education and Community Resources: training and support is provided to Ontario’s specialized problem gambling treatment system and allied professionals, including financial counsellors, correctional workers, addiction and mental health specialists, EAP providers, educators and ethno-cultural workers. Specialized training and support is also provided for all employees of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), the provincial agency operating and managing province-wide lotteries, casinos and slots facilities at horse racing tracks. Available resources for people affected by problem gambling, their families and helping professionals include a comprehensive treatment manual, a multi-faceted package to support community-based awareness initiatives, a series of information guides and ProblemGambling.ca, a comprehensive, bilingual website for information and resources on problem gambling. 
• Research: CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health and addictions research facility, with 100 full-time scientists and 300 research staff working to better understand mental illness and substance-use disorders; to improve diagnosis, prevention and intervention; and to develop public policies. Approximately half of the funding provided by the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre has been awarded to our problem gambling researchers. Areas of research investigation have included the genetics of problem gambling behaviour, potential pharmacological treatments and evaluations of different treatment approaches, including cognitive therapy, acupuncture, telephone counselling and mutual aid approaches. Our researchers have also developed screening, assessment, treatment and relapse-prevention resources.
• Centre for Addiction & Mental Health: CAMH is Canada's leading Addiction and Mental Health teaching hospital. CAMH succeeds in transforming the lives of people affected by addiction and mental illness, by applying the latest in scientific advances, through integrated and compassionate clinical practice, health promotion, education and research.

Address
Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario 33 Russell Street Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S1 Canada

Contact Person / Email
Problem.gambling@camh.ca

Call 416 535 8501

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CAMH’s Sexual Behaviours Clinic (SBC) provides services for people with sexual behaviours or urges that may have resulted in personal and/or legal difficulties. The clinic provides several services including: 

• Assessment
• Individual & Group Counselling
• Family Counselling
• Consultation to other agencies and professionals
• Pharmacological assessment and treatment related to sex drive 

Our team includes professionals from psychiatry, psychology, sexology, social work, and other disciplines. The clinic only provides services to individuals over the age of 18. Our clients typically include people who have been convicted of a sexual offence and are serving community sentences (this includes contact offences, child pornography offences, and other non-contact offences); people who are on formal mental health diversion through the court for a sexual-related offence;people who are distressed by their sexual interest and/or behaviours {this includes both legal, (i.e., excessive masturbation and pornography use), and illegal, (i.e., an interest in child pornography)]; people with intellectual disabilities and those with concurrent mental illness and/or substance abuse issues, who are experiencing challenges with their sexual behaviour (this includes people with or without criminal convictions). Importantly, they also provide services to the families of people who have been convicted of sexual offences.  A referral is not required for this service and individuals who are interested in this service may contact the clinic directly. The clinic caters to diverse cultural and linguistic communities.  CAMH interpretation services are provided for clients as needed for both assessment and treatment. 

Address
1001 Queen St. W Unit 2, 1st Floor Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada

Call 4165358501

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The Adult Gender Identity Clinic at CAMH offers specialty services to both individuals and their primary care practitioners in Ontario in regard to issues related to gender identity and expression, including gender expansive, trans and  non-binary identities.  We support the person in meeting their gender journey goals.  The Clinic follows the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care (WPATH),V7 for transition related surgery (TRS). The program offers a comprehensive response to the variety of clinical issues experienced by clients.  The clinical team is interdisciplinary and includes social work, psychiatry and psychology staff with specialized expertise in trauma informed mental health and addiction care. Our services include services for

• Individuals: the clinic offers consultations and support to individuals over 18 who wish to explore issues related to their gender identity, which may include any degree of transgender expression. Consultation and support may include: comprehensive mental health assessments, individual support and treatment, group-based support and treatment, as well as recommendations for surgery funding and referrals for clients seeking transition-related surgeries.
• Community Professionals: the Adult Gender Identity Clinic provides support and consultations to primary care practitioners and other clinicians in the community and in other health care settings to help them help their clients reach their goals related to gender identity and expression.  This may include consultations in regard to completing a mental health assessment, consultation in regard to completing a surgery approval assessment, or -being a second assessor for surgery approvals. The clinic will work collaboratively with you and your organization/practice to help you meet your client’s goals. 

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The Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostic Services Department provides relevant, accurate and timely information which contributes to the wellness of the community. Laboratory information is an important aspect of patient care and is critical to the support of specific diagnosis and therapies.

• Laboratory Tests: the Laboratory at CAMH provides on site testing services in the following disciplines: Biochemistry, Hematology and Toxicology. Phlebotomy service is provided at both the College and Queen Street sites. Patient testing that cannot be provided in-house is referred to other accredited Laboratories as appropriate to the testing requested.
• EEG and ECG: electro-diagnostic services (EEG and ECG) are available to CAMH's inpatients and outpatients. Routine EEGs are preformed to rule out or diagnose organicity, seizure disorders, encephalopathies or tumors. ECGs assess risk to patients pre-medication and pre-ECT and diagnose cardiac infarct, conduction blockages, arrhythmias, etc.
• X-ray: basic diagnostic radiology is provided for inpatients and outpatients of CAMH at the Queen Street site through a contract with a state-of the art mobile X-Ray service that is on site twice per week. Patient testing that cannot be provided in-house is referred to other accredited Laboratories as appropriate to the testing requested.

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The Complex Mental Illness/Forensic Services include clients whose serious mental illness has brought them in contact with the law and who are now in the forensic mental health system. The program provides a continuum of care that includes assessment, treatment and rehabilitation across a range of units at different levels of security, as well as community supervision, consultation, and specialty services. Links to these various services are provided on the left hand side of the screen.

Contact: Diana Shea, Administrative Secretary, ( ext. 32898. Fax at Queen Street site: (416) 583-4319 - Unit 2-1.

Contact: Leena Ramharakh, Administrative Supervisor, (416) 535-8501, ext. 32937, Unit 3-4.

Location: Queen Street site

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The Mood and Anxiety Service provides outpatient and inpatient services to clients with mood and anxiety disorders. The outpatient part provides services for clients with major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness), anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, nurses, psychometrists and recreation therapists staff the service. It is divided into six specialty clinics which provide clinical care, education and research. The program offers consultations; time limited treatment and follow-up, education and services for families. There is a 12-bed inpatient unit located on the Queen Street site.

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The Ontario Pharmacy Support Program (OPSP) is a non-OHIP funded clinic with a mission to help reduce the emotional, social, and economic costs associated with mental health and substance use problems in the workplace for members of the College of Pharmacists of Ontario and their families.  The clinic consists of an interprofessional team of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, and Physicians specializing in Mental Health, Addictions, and Pain. Our team has extensive experience in evidence-based assessment and treatment of mental health and substance use issues. We also provide education, support, and information to help navigate the health care system in Ontario, including available community resources. The expert team works together to facilitate improved function and recovery of your College Member (Pharmacists, Pharmacist Technicians, and Pharmacy Students/Interns), with the goal of a successful and safe work-life. Our services include: education, assessment, treatment, monitoring, and/or referral to appropriate community services.

The mission of the WSH Program and OPSP for the Ontario College of Pharmacists and the Ontario Pharmacists Association is to help reduce the emotional, social, and economic costs associated with mental health and substance use problems in the workplace. We are committed to a holistic approach that helps individuals to transform their lives and recover in ways that are culturally, religiously, and spiritually sensitive. Services are available for all Members of the College of Pharmacists of Ontario (Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Students/Interns) as well as support for their family members. They provide members with fee-for-service options including comprehensive psychological, psychiatric and/or substance use assessments: clear diagnostic and functional formulation of member’s condition; treatment and practice recommendations(e.g., monitoring, safety concerns in practice; direct or facilitated interventions within WSH treatment tailored to members’ specific needs; evidence-based treatment; substance use counseling and relapse prevention; co-ordination of specialized mental health and substance programs within CAMH; mmonitoring services that are tailored to members’ specific needs. The also provide at no cost self-referral options; information and advice about mental health concerns; information about available clinical and assessment services throughout Ontario and information about monitoring and advocacy services.

The team has the expertise and training to provide assessment, diagnoses, and treatment in the areas of mental health, substance abuse/dependence, stress and burnout, marital and family difficulties, among many others, as well as access to additional specialized clinics within CAMH. We are also able to provide referrals to external resources at the Member’s request Program Goals include to provide industry-leading assessment, treatment, and disability management services; prevent long-term disability absences; promote the health and wellness of Members; provide evidence-based, prompt, comprehensive options for all Members; romote return to work and improve productivity; and maintain confidentiality of all Members

Address
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5S 2G8 Canada

Call 416 535 8501

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The Ontario Psychiatric Outreach Program (OPOP) currently operates out of CAMH. It is an administrative body that oversees the  funding and policies that govern the three clinical programs Northern Psychiatric Outreach Program at CAMH (NPOP-C), Northern Ontario Francophone Psychiatric Program (NOFPP) at the University of Ottawa, and the Extended Campus Program at Western University, which collaborate to provide clinical service, education and support to communities throughout Northern Ontario, particularly those considered rural, remote or underserviced in terms of access to mental health care services . The operations of OPOP are governed by its steering committee that is comprised of members of the clinical programs, MOHLTC and LHIN representatives.

The Northern Psychiatric Outreach Program at CAMH (NPOP-C), operates out of CAMH, and its primary mandate is to provide fly-in and drive-in psychiatric consultations, education and support to the underserviced areas of Northern Ontario, particularly those communities that are rural, remote and considered underserviced and as allocated   by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Northern health program. In collaboration with the University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry, and NOSM, NPOP-C actively promotes resident outreach and education to these underserviced communities.

Address
College Street site, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada

Call 416 535 8501

The Medication Substance Program (MSP) is a non-OHIP funded Specialty Clinic that provides service to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).  This WSIB Specialty Program is designed to meet the needs of workers who are being treated with high dose opioid medications and living with chronic pain issues resulting from a workplace injury. The MSP includes comprehensive, interprofessional outpatient and inpatient services catering to a diverse worker population. Our outpatient professionals include Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, and Physicians specializing in Neurology, Addiction, and Pain Management. Treatment Options include:

• Daily Outpatient Group Treatment –  8-week program with a primary focus  on safe tapering of opioid medications as well as coping strategies for pain management.
• Inpatient Medical Withdrawal Services – 7-day inpatient program for clients providing  24-hour support and supervision and assessment to assist clients with safe withdrawal from physically addictive substances. Clients are able to access psycho-educational groups during their stay and regular assessment by performed by physicians to monitor and assess progress.
• Inpatient Residential Addiction Services – 21 Day-Residential program during which clients are provided with psychoeducation, relapse prevention skills, stress management skills and group processing time.
• Outpatient Individualized Services –  provided on an as-needed basis, a customized comprehensive treatment plan is provided by  Addiction Specialists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Pharmacists, and/or Occupational Therapists. 

Address
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 210, Toronto, ON, M5S 2G8 Canada

Call 416 535 8501

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The Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention encompasses, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) , Magnetic Seizure Therapy(MST) and  Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).  The service offers consultation on clients with refractory and difficult to treat psychiatric disorders. The service has a clinical research focus. The novel treatments (rTMS and MST) that are available are primarily offered in the context of participation in ongoing clinical trials. Clients who are interested in participating in one of the clinical trials will meet with a research analyst following the psychiatric consultation for more detailed description of the available studies and will undergo more detailed screening to ensure eligibility.  Clients who are not eligible for participation in one of the clinical research trials may or may not be eligible to receive treatment outside of one of the clinical trials. Current Research Programgs inlcude

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Evaluate the Role of Clozapine Potentiation of Gaba in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
• Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment Study to Enhance Working Memory Deficits in Patients with Schizophrenia
• Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment Resistant Depressive Disorder
• Cortical Inhibition in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
• Paired Associative Stimulation in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Patients with Schizophrenia: A combined rTMS and Electroencephalography study across the Lifespan
• The Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Healthy Human Subjects
• Inhibition of Gamma Oscillations as a Neurophysiological Endophenotype of Schizophrenia
• Measuring Cortical Inhibition in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A TMS EEG study
   

Address
1001 Queen Street West Unit 4, Ground Floor Canada

Call 4165358501

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CAMH's Women's Mental Health Service primarily serves women who have a history of trauma in combination with a diagnosis of mental illness. Services include:

• Women and trauma Service (Integrated Day Treatment Servoce: the Women and Trauma Service is an 8 week outpatient program for women struggling with  the impact of trauma on their lives which can have an affect on daily living activities. The program provides individual and group treatment, including dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), psychoeducation, and skill building and coaching
• The Women's Inpatient Unit is a time limited, goal-oriented acute inpatient unit for women with severe mental illness or mood and anxiety disorders who may have experienced trauma (childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse and/or sexual or physical assault in adulthood) and /or addiction. Individualized treatment includes assessment, diagnostic clarification, stabilization, focused treatment interventions and facilitation of community linkages.

Address
9th floor 250 College Street Toronto, ON M5T 1R8 Canada

Call 416 535 8501

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CAMH's Work, Stress and Health (WSH) Service is a non-OHIP funded interprofessional program that provides comprehensive Psychiatric and Psychological consultations, assessments, and treatments in Pain Management, Medication Misuse, Addictions, and Relapse Prevention. Their clinic consists of an interdisciplinary team of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, and Physicians specializing in Neurology, Addictions, and Pain Management. Our mission is to support clients in their recovery from the challenges associated with mental health and substance use/misuse concerns. In addition, WSH aims to increase workplace wellness in order to reduce the costs associated with mental health concerns in the workplace. Committed to an evidence-based approach to treatment, we employ empirically-validated treatments, with an emphasis on psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as pharmacological interventions. The specific programs include:

• Psychological Trauma Program
• Medication and Substance Program
• Occupational Stress and Trauma Recovery Clinic
• Ontario Pharmacy Support Program
• Forensic Psycholegal Clinic

Address
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 210, Toronto, ON, M5S 2G8 Canada

Call 416 5358501

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The Workman Arts Project of Ontario (Workman Arts) supports aspiring, emerging and established artists with mental illness and addiction issues who are committed to developing and refining their art forms, and to promote a greater understanding of mental illness and addiction through film, theatre, visual arts, music and literary arts. The objectives of Workman Arts are to promote public awareness of mental health and addiction issues through various artistic media, provide arts training, support, and employment within a professional creative environment for people receiving mental health services and addiction services, promote relations between Workman Arts and Ontario arts companies in order to enhance employment opportunities for people receiving mental health and addiction services, and be an information source for members of the artistic community seeking information regarding mental health problems and related issues.

Address
651 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON M6K 2B2 Canada

Call 416 583 4339

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The Psychological Trauma Program (PTP) is a non-OHIP funded Specialty Clinic that provides service to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).  They provide comprehensive psychiatric and psychological assessments, treatment, and disability management services for individuals referred by WSIB. Our goal is to help reduce the emotional, social, and economic costs associated with mental health problems in the workplace. We are committed to a holistic approach that supports individuals along their journey of recovery. WSH is committed to addressing the barriers to recovery often faced by individuals with mental health and substance use concerns, such as stigma, level of comfort seeking treatment, inadequate “function-focused” treatment, and limited support with transitions to return to work. 

Address
455 Spadina Avenue, Suite 210, Toronto, ON, M5S 2G8 Canada

Call 416 5358501

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The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) is committed to addressing the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural and remote communities across NSW. The three core areas of suicide prevention, mental health promotion and service development reflects this commitment, as does our aim to engage appropriately in research and education with Aboriginal communities. They continue to develop competency of CRRMH staff to work in a cross-cultural context and to work with Aboriginal communities in a respectful manner.

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The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) has adapted the ‘Act-Belong- Commit’ mental health promotion campaign as one of its key initiatives. ‘Act-Belong-Commit’ is a community-based health promotion campaign that encourages people to take action to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This evidence-based campaign was developed from research undertaken by Curtin University into people’s perceptions of mental health and the behaviours they believed protected and promoted good mental health. Act-Belong-Commit

• Act: keep physically, socially, cognitively and spiritually active. Take a walk, phone a friend, do a crossword, dance, or play cards.
• Belon: join a book club, take a cooking class, be more involved in groups you are already a member of or go along to community events.
• Commit: make a commitment to an interest or a cause, learn something new, take on a challenge or volunteer.

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Books on Prescription is a tool in the stepped-care mental health tool kit The CRRMH has partnered with the Books on Prescription scheme, which supports these treatment steps and is now available in public libraries across Central and Far Western NSW. Books included in the scheme are clinically verified, based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and cover a range of mild to moderate mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. The scheme encourages the participation of GPs and other health professionals.

The Books on Prescription user guide includes a list of recommended books that can be downloaded at booksonprescription.com.au. Individuals can take their book recommendation to the library, where the book can be borrowed for free and without a referral. GPs or other mental health professionals such as psychologists or counsellors can also recommend the books. The user guide advises that individuals contact their GP or another health professional if the book doesn’t seem to be helping. Practitioners are encouraged to reinforce this as part of the consultation process.

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Good SPACE (GS) (formerly known as Farm-Link) is a Suicide Prevention Project that aims to prevent suicide through community and clinical education. The project, supported by Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) also helps link people to services appropriate to their needs. Good SPACE aims to increase AWARENESS about why people die by suicide, what leads a person into that space, and what we can all do to be in a good space. They provide practical suggestions to help individuals personally so they can have the COURAGE to make choices to keep themselves in a good space and the COURAGE to have a conversation about suicide with a person they are concerned about. They encourage EMPATHY to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide, acknowledging suicide as a real human condition that can be dramatically reduced by care, concern and listening to the pain of another. Through AWARENESS, COURAGE and EMPATHY a person can be helped to choose life, to make better choices and to re-discover hope. We believe this (along with encouraging help-seeking) will contribute to the prevention of suicide.

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The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health’s aims to understand and respond to suicide in rural and remote communities across NSW. They conduct research activities to help understand the key factors leading to suicide and also deliver a wide range of workshops and training courses to educate communities and health professionals in suicide prevention. They are part of the NSW Mental Health Commission Suicide Prevention Advisory Group which works to improve planning, monitoring and co-ordination of suicide prevention efforts. 

Contact Person / Email
trevor.hazel@newcastle.edu.au

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The John Hoskin Library provides information and publications relevant to rural and remote mental health and is available for health professionals employed through the Western NSW Local Health District, university students, patients, carers and members of the public. The Library also includes the Bloomfield Hospital library collection and resources from the University of Newcastle.

Address
Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health Building c/o Bloomfield Hospital Forest Road Orange NSW 2800

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The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) is a state-wide program funded by the NSW Ministry of Health, that links rural people to the help they need. RAMHP is managed by the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH), in partnership with each of the rural NSW Local Health Districts.

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Gotcha4Life kickstarts the conversation around mental fitness in communities with inspiring and interactive talks and workshops that engage, educate, and empower individuals and communities to build mental fitness. Members of the Gotcha4Life team including our passionate Founder, media personality Gus Worland, Gotcha4Life trained presenters and ambassadors, talk openly about their lived experiences, and the power of building mental fitness.

Country
Australia

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Gotcha4Life delivers preventative mental fitness workshops and training to inspire and enable all Australians to take action to build their mental fitness. We deliver to schools, sports clubs, community groups, and workplaces to get those hard conversations started sooner and provide the skills to have them within our communities.

Country
Australia

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Gotcha4Life’s Mentally Fit Primary Schools program takes a prevention-first, whole-of-school approach to building wellbeing capacity. Designed to inspire and enable your staff, students, parent and carer community to adopt a proactive approach to building their mental fitness, we partner with you to establish an enduring, mentally fit school climate.

Country
Australia

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Gotcha4Life powers workshops delivered by our expert partners. Tomorrow Man deliver an immersive learning experience, training young men how to walk their own path, talk with gravity and engage actively, with purpose, in all areas of their lives.

Country
Australia

Call +61 (03) 9956 8860

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Tomorrow Woman aspires to reignite girls and women around Australia with their innate voice, empowering them to confidently express their needs and opinions in the moments that matter.

Country
Australia

Call +61 (03) 9956 8860

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Mental health accredited training is delivered by our qualified partner Anchor Health to empower members of the community to help others confidently and safely. 

Country
Australia

Contact Person / Email
info@mananchor.com.au

Call 0405 420 413

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Hearts & Minds is here to support you and your families, because we believe that resourced, supported, and informed families are central to community wellness. Hearts & Minds is here to support families of every kind. If you and your family are in need  of support, Hearts & Minds can help you along the way with some services.  If you've just immigrated to New Zealand, or if you are already in Nz from a while, but you still need some issues...we can provide support and information about living and in New Zealand. Settle in a new country is a challenge! Let us help you to find the right solution to your needs. Learn more about all the services available for Newcomers in Auckland Notrh Region. Our life skills seminars, courses, training and workshops are developed to respond to the needs and requests of different groups and communities, with the ultimate goal of helping equip people with the skills to make better, more positive life choices. 

Contact Person / Email
learning@heartsandminds.org.nz

Call (09) 441 8989

Global Food & Friends is a friendship group for newcomers, migrants, refugees and Kiwis.  You can learn about Kiwi culture, find out how local services can help you to settle in New Zealand, try foods from around the world, meet others, make new friends and have fun. Learn from a wide range of speakers and activities.

Contact Person / Email
info@heartsandminds.org.nz 

Call 09 441 8989

The Migrant and Refuge Directory is a database of information for people from a CALD background and new to New Zealand. As a directory, there are a number of categories including:

• Community Information
• Education
• Employment
• Ethnic Communities / Organisations
• General / Support Services
• Government Agencies
• Health Services
• Language Support
• Media / Radio Stations / Events
• Religious Support & Churches

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Strengthening Families is a n initiative dedicated to helping whanau and families connect with the support services and agencies they need. This could be anything from working with a budget advisor, truancy officer or social worker, to a medical specialist, counsellor or teacher. The different organisations will work together to help develop a plan of action that best suits your family or whanau. The aim is to shift the focus from crisis intervention, giving you the support right when you need it, before any difficult situations get worse.

Strengthening Families pulls together support for families/ whänau in New Zealand. The people helping your family may be a budget advisor, truancy officer, social worker, medical specialist, counsellor, teacher or other support worker.  One works out together what support your family/ whänau needs and what each service is going to do.  It is set up so families/ whänau tell their story once to everyone at the same time. Then everyone agrees on a plan to move you forward.

Address
PO Box 1556 Wellington New Zealand

Call +64 4 918 9281

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Inspire Ireland’s Youth Advisory Network is made up a young people that wish to get actively involved in our work. Becoming a member of the network means playing an important role in shaping the direction of the service. The network contributes by developing written and visual content for the website, helping to promote ReachOut.com at events around the country, providing feed-back on communication campaigns  and ReachOut.com projects You can find out more in the Getting Involved section of ReachOut.com or by contacting us at info@inspireireland.ie

Country
Ireland

Contact Person / Email
info@inspireireland.ie

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The Please Talk initiative is funded by the HSE National Office of Suicide Prevention and has two components.

• The first is the campaign’s message that ‘talking is a sign of strength’, which urges students to talk to someone if they’re having problems at home, at college or anywhere else.
• The second component of the campaign, the Please Talk website, www.pleasetalk.org, highlights the extensive supports available to students on campuses throughout Ireland, as well as other external information and services.

Country
Ireland

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ReachOut.com offers comprehensive and in-depth information on mental health issues for young people. It also provides a safe space where young people can engage with our team of moderators and panel of experts on issues that really affect them – from drugs and alcohol to suicide and self-harm, from exam stress to bullying. The service encourages help-seeking and facilitates connections to face to face services and supports in a positive environment. ReachOut.com uses social media and new technologies to help prevent youth suicide and improve young people’s mental health and well-being. Through ReachOut.com Inspire is dedicated to taking the mystery out of mental health.

Country
Ireland

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The Inspire Ambassador Programme creates deeper involvement with people who are passionate about the work of Inspire, helping young people in Ireland lead happier lives. Being an ambassador means more ownership of the Inspire programmes and the direction it takes into the future. Ambassadors are involved in a wide range of activities from: Representing Inspire at events and in the media, ReachOut.com content creation, Fundraising, Advocacy

Country
Ireland

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Young people are at the centre of everything the Inspire Foundation do. Working with young people, we aim to promote mental health and well-being in a way that is open and honest, but above all is safe and supportive. Inspire uses creative technology and social media, combined with the direct involvement of young people, to deliver an innovative and practical online programme.

• Youth Advisory Network: Inspire Ireland’s Youth Advisory Network is made up a young people that wish to get actively involved in our work. Becoming a member of the network means playing an important role in shaping the direction of the service. The network contributes by developing written and visual content for the website, helping to promote ReachOut.com at events around the country, providing feed-back on communication campaigns  and ReachOut.com projects You can find out more in the Getting Involved section of ReachOut.com or by contacting us at info@inspireireland.ie.
• Ambassador Programme: The Inspire Ambassador Programme creates deeper involvement with people who are passionate about the work of Inspire, helping young people in Ireland lead happier lives. Being an ambassador means more ownership of the Inspire programmes and the direction it takes into the future. Ambassadors are involved in a wide range of activities from: Representing Inspire at events and in the media, ReachOut.com content creation, Fundraising, Advocacy
• Internships: Inspire Ireland realises the importance of providing opportunities to individuals who are creative and passionate about helping young people lead happier lives. Inspire runs two internship programmes in Community Engagement and Online Communications. These offer a rich and challenging learning opportunity and allow interns to contribute their ideas and talents to Inspire. To see examples of our youth engagement please check out Inspire Ireland’s community partners.

Country
Ireland

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Advocacy is an independent service designed to listen carefully to the options, concerns, problems or issues that people may be experiencing whilst using mental health services and to give people a voice. An advocate can provide you with information in relation to the options available to you. We can discuss your options and/or rights in situations that arise in your life that affect your mental health. The advocate will help you to express any concerns and to pass these on to relevant professionals. An advocate can be a paid member of staff or someone who has experienced their own mental health problems and have been trained to take on the advocacy role.  Advocates will also support the individual to be heard. This means that the first thing the advocate will do is listen. The advocate will not judge and all discussions will be treated confidentially. Confidentiality will only be broken if there is a potential danger to the individual or someone else.

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Inspire Mental Health manages 15 Community Wellbeing Services, providing support to over 1,300 members.

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Inspire Mental Health provides ten 24-hour staffed schemes which are located in Belfast, Bangor, Antrim, Ballymoney and Cookstown. We also provide 36 non 24-hour staffed schemes located throughout Northern Ireland.

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Inspire Mental Health Floating Support Services are flexible locally based projects designed to assist individuals with mental health needs to access accommodation, maintain their home/tenancy and develop their ability to live independently in their own community. Each of Inspire’s Floating Support Services is embedded in the community and responds to locally identified support needs. However the initial aim for all our Floating Support Services is to support individuals with mental health needs access accommodation or stabilise current accommodation. The support delivered seeks to improve the life skills and confidence of the people we work with as well as their motivation to live independently in their own community. This involves supporting, encouraging and signposting on areas such as health and personal wellbeing, safety, security, finances, managing a home and creating access to opportunities within the local community.Floating Support Services are time limited and Referrals are usually accepted from Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the local Health and Social Care Trust. However this may vary from scheme to scheme 

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Inspire Support Services works in partnership with Sheltered Housing Schemes which provide accommodation for people with physical or mental health needs or older people. Inspire Support Services offers flexible and responsive social care to enhance the quality of life of individuals living in the schemes. This assists tenants in maintaining their tenancies with environmental benefits. Inspire Support Services offers: 

• ‘Quality of Life’ support service tailored to meet the needs of tenants living within the scheme. Along with group and social activities, experienced and skilled social care staff provide individual support including assistance with daily living and domestic skills such as shopping, budgeting and household management; contact with other professionals; transport and assistance with GP and hospital appointments; verbal and written communication and correspondence; information on claiming benefits and welfare rights advice; and a befriending service. 
• Interface Between Housing and Social Care: inspire’s experience in social care; working with the community; working with statutory bodies; helping co-ordinate various services; partnership working; balancing the demands of social care and housing provision; and value base of Inspire
• Environmental Benefits of Sheltered Housing: safe and Secure, peer support; security of tenure; flexible hours of cove
• Evening Support / Activities 
• Weekend Support / Activities 
• Responding to Need Emergency Helpline

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The Drop in Rehabilitation Centre is a day centre for providing Psychosocial interventions. The DIC focuses on providing overall resettlement and habilitation opportunities for Iswar Sankalpa’s homeless psychosocially disabled clients, in an effort to help mainstream them as productive members back into society. This is achieved through facilitated participation of the clients in select occupational and vocational activities, as well as supervised pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, all of which ultimately aim in restoring the client’s self-confidence, self-reliance and independent living.

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Outreach is a community-based Service Delivery intervention program that works within the Kolkata Metropolis to reach homeless people with psychosocial disabilities

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Restoration Projects work with an urban homeless population with psychosocial disability has furthered the organisation’s realisation of the demands of this sector of work, as well the variety of efforts which are critically required on behalf of the organisation. The philosophy behind the restoration process is to facilitate and foster independent community living of our clients, so that they may live a productive, dignified life in society, and are able to become contributing members of the society. The Restoration process is divided into a three-way approach, each an inalienable part of the entire process:

• Habilitation activities: Involving person in learning new skills and techniques
• Repatriation back home
• Resettlement into the community:settling in to the community through productive work.

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The Shelter for Urban Homeless Women with Psychosocial disabilities. It focuses on medical as well as psychosocial methods. Over the past couple of years, Sarbari has been putting in great efforts towards the psychosocial habilitation of these individuals and mainstream them successfully in the society. Much emphasis has been laid on the different approaches towards the habilitation of these women in the shelter home, and based on these Sarbari is attempting to develop and maintain a wholesome model for the habilitation.

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The Emergency Response Unit is a project which provides emergency care and allied services to homeless persons with psychosocial disabilities within the Kolkata metropolitan area in West Bengal. This team of mental health professionals work towards providing services, countering stigma and discrimination and bringing together agencies which can provide sustainable intervention.

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The Urban Mental Health Program is a primary urban health care unit and community movement that aims to evolve a holistic care pathway for the socio-economically disadvantaged population in the slums in both these wards – by integrating mental health services with physical health care services in the primary health care setting. By reaching out to those having some mental health conditions – the project aspires to promote early detection and minimise stigma as well. Hence, UMHP focuses on the preventive aspects of mental illness and health – and thus leads to quicker intervention.

UMHP has a dualistic goal to integrate mental health services with general health services offered at the ward health unitsof the two wards under the KMC and in the process train and create non-psychiatric workers in the field of mental health. This will help in establishing a faster identification, intervention and treatment process; and to evolve a community movement towards positive mental health. This is an inclusive idea of mental well-being and not simply the absence of mental health conditions. This will help target the knowledge, attitude and practices of the community and bring change. Their vision is that these wards will serve as models which the KMC can adapt in their other wards, heralding a new Calcutta – the city of joy where madness is no longer misunderstood, shunned and discarded off, but embraced and provided intervention, treatment and support.

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Jami Outpatient Clinic offers OPD and pharmacy services to patients. It is a multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and community workers holds camps in low income areas around the clinic. The camps spread awareness of mental illnesses and help those who are ill to come forward and get treated. Jami Clinic receives 7000 patient visits annually.

Address
101 Al Noor Arcade, near Qamrul Islam mosque, Khayaban-e-Jami, Karachi 75500 Pakistan

Call 0092 21 35863060

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The Korangi Community Psychiatric Centre (KCPC) is  is based on a new and highly successful model for mental health treatment – Community Psychiatry. The Centre provides community based care where, after diagnosis, mobilizers and case workers do follow up home visits, thus providing quality care and support to the home based patient. This helps to reduce not only chances of relapse but also the cost of treatment.

In partnership with other mental health organizations like Hands, Basic Needs, PAMH and Aman Foundation, KCPC holds camps in the areas of Malir and Korangi and also provides consultation and medicines to psychiatric patients. Education on mental disorders reducing stress, resources available to patient and other subjects that might help patients and his/her family to manage and understand illness. Services include:

• Psychiatric consultation and treatment
• Day Care and Rehabilitation services
• Individual, family & group therapy
• Monitoring medications/follow up in community through community workers

Address
Plot #SC-54, Darusalam Housing Society, Sector 31-F, Korangi, Karachi

Call +92-21 3512 0204

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The Psychiatric Care and Rehabilitation Center (PCRC) is Karwan-e-Hayat’s flagship centre. This 100-bed inpatient hospital was opened for operations in 2005, initially with a limited capacity.  The PCRC offers OPD, consultation, inpatient services, Psych-Rehabilitation and Day Care services. Free meals are also provided to inpatients and outpatients who attend the Day Care services at the PCRC. Over a span of 10 years, the PCRC has treated an estimated 152,000 patients. The journey to provide treatment and care to patients from every strata of society continues. Services that are available at PCRC include:

• Outpatient clinic
• Inpatient facilities
• Rehabilitation services
• Day Care
• Camps

Address
Near KPT Hospital and Ziauddin Hospital Keamari, Karachi Pakistan

Contact Person / Email
contact@keh.org.pk

Call 9221 32856880

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ASAP was a program that facilitates a systemic advocacy project in the Welington region. The project aim was to establish workable and sustainable sysemic advocacy structures and processes for people with experience of mental health and/or addiction in our region. The funding was for a period of two years from July 2009 until the end of June 2011. We undertook this project in partnership with a number of local organisations. 

Buddies peer support service  shares the hope of recovery with ‘peers’ who are currently experiencing mental health difficulties. 

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CALMHA’s key objective is an organisation that aims to increase opportunities for consumers/tāngata whaiora to influence decisions which affect the lives of themselves and others who use Mental Health and Addiction services.

• CALMHA Forum
• The CALMHA Leadership Programme
• Consumer Leadership Position Paper
• Consumer Leadership and Workforce Development Project

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The Regional Wellbeing Alliance is a collaboration has been recently formed and is currently composed of five wellbeing organisations in the Greater Wellington Region Atareira, Kites Trust, Mix, Te Ara Korowai , Wellington After-Care Association. They are a group are committed to flourishing communties, where all members of our communities are able to move through the challenges and accomplishments of life without barriers to support.

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The PWA is a professional body that supports the professional status of the emerging peer workforce in addictions and mental health. 

Toka TÅ« Peer Support Research was a three year project to support 10 peer support programmes around New Zealand to increase their capability and capacity to undertake evaluation and develop an evidence base associated with recovery-focused peer-support services. In partnership with the programmes we will identify and support the undertaking of process and outcome evaluation. The results will contribute not only to planning and delivery of individual programmes but also but also begin to develop a New Zealand body of knowledge evidencing the value of peer support services.

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The Todd Foundation was a Youth Peer Support programme. for young people who experience mental distress. This project has been made possible through funding by the Todd Foundation. The programme will be for young people (18-24 years old) who are experiencing mental distress and who live in Wellington. The groups will be facilitated by young people with lived experience of recovery, trained in the Intentional Peer Support model.

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Youth Peer Support Forum aims to engage with young people and see how interested

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The ACCESS Open Minds network is a pan-Canadian initiative to show how youth mental health services can be transformed, improving access to appropriate mental health & addiction services for youth aged 11-25 years. It is a joint venture of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Graham Boeckh Foundation. Each partner is contributing $12.5 million over the five year life of the project. The initiative leverages the existing strengths of communities and systems, and is structured to be adaptable to the diverse geographic, cultural, and socio-demographic contexts in which Canadian youth live, as well as the diversity of Canadian youth and their presentation of mental health needs. The five main objectives of ACCESS OM are:

• Early identification (aims at 20% decrease in number of youth with unmet mental health needs)
• Rapid access (within 72 hours of help being sought)
• Continuity of Care (no arbitrary service cut off at age 18)
• Youth & Family/Caregiver Participation (collaborative planning of pathways of care)
• Appropriate Care (referral to the right services is within a maximum of 30 days)

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The Mental Health Foundation was born out of Alberta Hospital Edmonton and continues to support it by providing funds for research, education, and improvement of patient care. 

The Mental Health Foundation has invested in a program called All In For Youth to ensure kids get the support they need in the spaces where they need it. All in for Youth provides wraparound services for at-risk children and youth. Broadly, this means supplementing areas in a young person’s life that present an obstacle to their success in school. Says United Ways’ Community Investment Specialist Annette Malin by addressing the barriers in their lives, we aim to support students to stay engaged so that they can complete their education, and set their course for a life free from poverty.

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Brain Stimulation is the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulationtreats depression by using magnets to target brain cells that control emotional regulation. It has virtually no side effects, is painless and non-invasive, and shows potential for treating a range of mental illnesses.

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The Incredible Years is a popular evidence based parent training program that strengthens parenting competencies. Incredible Years is offered through Addiction and Mental Health Services, and the Mental Health Foundation has just signed on to fund it for the next five years. The Incredible Years program that AHS offers is unique because it has been adapted specifically to assist parents who are healing, as well as needing help with their parenting. The 14 week group incorporates trauma-informed practice and Addiction and Mental Health Intervention to provide relevant support to parents in recovery. The program teaches topics such as emotional regulation, safety, self-soothing, healthy boundaries and relationships, and control. The program is particularly valuable because it offers parents the opportunity for peer support.

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The Mental Health Foundation considers a mental health innovation to be a new or different, successful and cost effective way of delivering better mental health care. Innovative approaches are expected to lead to new understandings, directions or breakthroughs that increase the efficiency and efficacy of treatment and help to improve the quality of life of those living with addiction and/or mental health issues.

The Mental Health Foundation is dedicated to helping fund enhancements to support those afflicted by mental health issues and/or addiction. They believe it is important that patients have timely access to appropriate support services delivered in the right locations by the right providers and will seek out initiatives that are in alignment.

Young Adult Services offers the Young Adult Treatment  Program, and provides addiction counselling services, including recreation and leisure skills, to youth between 18 and 24 years old. This past year, Youth Day Camps were offered as part of the training.

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The Drug Subsidisation Program was put together in response to the prevalence of depression.  They maintain a list of advanced medications for treating mood disorders with relatively fewer side-effects that are not publicly financed under Hospital Authority’s Drug Formulary.  Underprivileged patients have since been able to benefit from those advanced medication that are not available under public healthcare.”

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The Program “Enhancing Executive Functions in Adolescents with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) aims to improve executive functioning skills of adolescents with ADHD.  It employs an innovative computer-assisted cognitive training programme that helps adolescents with ADHD to improve their academic performance, social functioning and time management.

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The Relatives and Patients Program works with non-government organizations in providing Focus Groups to individuals in recovery, their relatives and the public.  Our Focus Groups cover a wide variety of topics relating to mental health, from knowledge about the different common types of mental illness, how to tackle mental health issues and provide support to those suffering from mental illness and their relatives, to building resilience and remaining mentally healthy.

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The gatekeeper project is a pilot program tailor-made in response to the increasing trend of youth suicide and the recommendations made in the recent report of the Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides. It aims to improve the mental health and psychological well-being of teachers, students and parents in our community and enhance the ability for them to be more aware of mental health problems.

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The Youth Ambassador (YA) Program is a mental health promotion and intervention program to support the children of patients with severe mental illness. Children and teenagers aged 5 to 16, with one or both parents experiencing/experienced mental health issue(s), are invited to join YA Program. YA Program includes education and training in mental health, communication, problem solving and coping with stress. Through a series of activities, the participants would think more positively, grow more confident and “resilient” to meet challenges relating to their family conditions.

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Mental Health Above All is an opportunity is an opportunity for local Nova Scotia artists to volunteer to paint commercial quality ceiling tiles.

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The Mental Health Minute is a short educational feature on different components of mental health and mental illness. These segments aired on CTV News at 5 Atlantic through 2014 and 2015.

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The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, in partnership with military veteran and PTSD service dog advocate Medric Cousineau (Paws Fur Thought), is proud to support service dog training and matching for first responders in Nova Scotia living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Contact Person / Email
servicedogs@mentalhealthns.ca.

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The Opening Doors - End Family Violence (ODEFV) project was a series of traveling workshops aimed at providing rural areas in Nova Scotia with information and resources to better understand mental illness and addictions, and links to family violence. The free workshops were designed to educate and entertain, featuring presentations by mental health experts (on a range of topics identified by each community), first-voice speakers, an entertainment component, a Q & A opportunity, and take-home resources.  The workshops were created based on the input of community leaders, volunteers and mental health/family violence advocates in each location. Each session was presented in a safe space, free of judgment.

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Anyone over 18 in Wales can be referred to Active Monitoring by a GP, other health professional, or by contacting us directly. Within a week, they can start the six-week guided self-help course on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress, feeling alone, managing anger, grief and loss. Each week, an Active Monitoring Practitioner will send information and workbooks and call to offer support and guidance.

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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My Generation is a free eight week programme for older people which aims to improve wellbeing, build resilience and reduce isolation and loneliness. Each session is two hours. In the first hour we cover topics such as coping with loss, relaxation and mindfulness, problem solving and stress management. In the second half of the session we do an activity which can be anything from gentle exercise to a history talk. You'll also have the chance to learn about other projects in your areas that could help you, and find out how you can help others.

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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Side by Side Cymru programme will help local Minds in four areas improve the availability and quality of peer support in the community. Local Minds can help any local community group or organisation who is currently running – or interested in starting – a group that provides peer support. Our local Minds will be supporting groups in the following areas:

• Ceredigionshire or Pembrokeshire – delivered by Mind Aberystwyth
• Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil or Bridgend – delivered by Merthyr and the Valleys Mind
• North or Mid Powys – delivered by Mid Powys Mind
• Newport or Monmouthshire – delivered by Newport Mind

Groups or organisations in the above areas can find out how to provide peer support at a series of free learning and networking events. These sessions are a chance to bring people together to share experiences of running peer support groups and to learn and support each other. Local minds will be offering small grants to local groups that have an element of peer support. This money can be used to hire venues, publicise groups and cover the cost of materials..

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Contact Person / Email
projectscymru@mind.org.uk

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Welsh Government has funded Mind Cyrmu to work with four local Minds (Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Vale of Clwyd, Ystradgynlais, and Brecon and District Mind) to find out how social prescribing can improve mental health. This is a pilot project in Wales that is available in the four local Mind areas. We are evaluating the impact of the service, to better understand how social prescribing can improve mental health.

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Contact Person / Email
projectscymru@mind.org.uk

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Mind Cymru, in partnership with Hafal is proud to deliver Time to Change Wales, the first national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems. By talking about mental health we can strengthen relationships with friends, family and colleagues, take the taboo out of something that affects everyone, break down stereotypes and challenge stigma and support people in their recovery.

• Become a Champion
• Workplace Pledge
• Resources

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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Workplace Wellbeing in Wales is film that you can hear from Trystan and his manager Karen from Welsh Water Dwr Cymru about how Mind mental health training helped Trystan feel able to work again after taking time off sick with depression. Poor mental health is now the number one reason for staff absence. Mental health training from Mind is a cost-effective way to promote mental wellbeing in your organisation and at home.

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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NASMHPD is an organization representing the interests of the nation's state mental health agencies. NASMHPD members - the commissioners and directors of the 55 state and territorial mental health agencies - also appoint their directors of programs to serve on divisions, councils, and workgroups. There are five standing divisions for special populations (Children, Youth & Families; Financing and Medicaid; Forensic; Older Persons; and Legal) and a Medical Directors Council. The purpose of these entities is to provide technical assistance and expert consultation to the Commissioners/Directors on issues specific to those populations. Each of the divisions and the Medical Directors Council has a Commissioner Division Advisor.

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The NASMHPD Early Intervention in Psychosis is a virtual resource center. The Early Intervention in Psychosis virtual resource center is designed to provide reliable information for practitioners, policymakers, individuals, families, and communities in order to foster more widespread adoption and utilization of early intervention programming for persons at risk for (or experiencing a first episode of) psychosis.  The site includes information from a national RWJF-funded demonstration to identify and prevent the onset of psychotic illness – the Early Detection and Intervention for the Prevention of Psychosis Program (EDIPPP) ­– as well as other early intervention initiatives. 

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Employment Development Initiative (EDI) provides modest funding awards in the form of fixed-price subcontracts between the Contractor, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), and the States, Territories and District of Columbia. In addition, each awardee will receive two consultant technical assistance visits coordinated and paid through the Contractor's portion of the project. Applications were judged on the following criteria:

• Demonstrating ongoing significant collaborative efforts with SSAs;
• Identifying and adopting best/evidenced-based practices in order to maintain and/or enhance supported employment programs which will increase employment opportunities for people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders;
• Maintaining program integrity through multi-agency collaboration and by engaging performance management tools;
• Identifying appropriate performance measures and anticipating and reporting on plan outcomes;
• Involving consumers and families in the development and implementation of the initiative.

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The State Mental Health Forensic Directors hereby organize in support of the interests and purposes of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors in the development and operation of forensic programs and facilities. Administration of mental health forensic systems requires understanding and integration of at least four distinguishable fields:

• Behavioral Science;
• Corrections;
• Legislation and Law, and
• Administration

Forensic service systems are the result of planning, development, and operation in diverse endeavors including:

• Mental Health evaluation and treatment services to courts and custody facilities;
• Operation of secure hospitals;
• Provision of technical consultation to staff in developing methods of effective recognition and management of areas such as civil commitment, patient's rights and guardianship;
• Development of training of mental health, legal, correctional and administrative professionals; and
• Consultation in the development of sound legislation and administrative rules.

It is the purpose, therefore, of the State Mental Health Forensic Directors, Division of National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, to gather those individuals directly responsible for the administration of state forensic systems in order to:

• Provide a mechanism for collection, study, discussion, resolution and dissemination of problems, ideas, models, information, and approaches to the planning, development, and operation of state forensic systems, programs and facilities;
• Promote and participate in training and in development of appropriate standards; and
• Improve the quality, effectiveness, and pursuit of excellence in forensic administration.

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Contact Person / Email
Kelle.Masten@nasmhpd.org

Call 7037399333

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Housing Task Force is a website that post documents and resources to assist your housing work and make sure you are up-to-date with the happenings of NASMHPD's Housing Task Force. NASMHPD has teamed up with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) to co-host two (2) regional Supportive Housing Leadership Forums: 1) a 12-state forum for the Northeast in Providence, RI and 2) a 8-state forum for the Midwest in Chicago, IL. NASMHPD sponsored two policy academies in Memphis that focused on leveraging funds and building relationships to create housing for people with mental illness. Twenty-one states participated in these two academies. In 2007, NASMHPD co-hosted a webcast with the National Governors Association and Advocates for Human Potential entitled Supportive Housing for People with Mental Illness: Regaining a Life in the Community. In an effort to educate Governors' Health Policy Directors to the importance housing plays with this population of vulnerable Americans, NASMHPD published a comprehensive briefing document for this webcast.

NASMHPD actively participates in the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Housing Task Force and advocates on behalf of critical housing programs such as the Section 8 program, Section 811 program, and the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance grant program. It also collaborates with many housing organizations such as CSH, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA).

In 2006, representatives of seven state housing finance agencies (HFA) and seven state mental health agencies held a Housing and Mental Health Summit in Washington, DC, to discuss state efforts to coordinate housing and mental health services. They were joined and assisted by representatives of the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, CSH, TAC, and NAEH. This summit produced a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NASMHPD and NCSHAand a commitment to share information at national conferences and other meetings on the need for state housing and mental health agency collaboration and how to replicate and build on successful collaboration models. Since that meeting, members of our two organizations have presented at each other's national meetings on four separate occasions around the nation.

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandria, VA 22314

Contact Person / Email
david.miller@nasmhpd.org

Call (703) 682-5194

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The NASMHPD Medical Directors Council conducts its work under the auspices of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). Authorized by the Board of Directors in 1995, the Council's membership includes medical directors from state mental health authorities from across the country. The Council's activities are guided by members of an Executive Committee and a NASMHPD staff liaison who develop an annual work plan. Issues of concern to members of the NASMHPD Medical Directors Council include: identifying clinical best practices for people with mental illnesses; improving state psychiatric hospital administration, appropriately utilizing new psychotropic medications; and exploring the use of treatment algorithms, among many others. The primary mission and objectives of the Council are to:

• Identify emerging clinical issues impacting state mental health authorities and the public mental health service delivery system;
• Provide advice and guidance to NASMHPD members and staff alike on best practices and policy for these issues;
• Provide forums to encourage states to share planning, programming, and research and evaluation findings to improve public mental health services; and
• Foster peer-to-peer information sharing, and encourage collaborative responses to identified technical assistance needs in states.

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Contact Person / Email
Kelle.Masten@nasmhpd.org

Call 703 682 5187

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The NASMHPD Research Institute Inc. (NRI) is a separate non-profit organization. The mission of the NRI is to promote quality and accountability of mental health services by generating and facilitating the use of relevant research, data, and information that meets the collective and individual needs of state mental health agencies.

Representatives of State Mental Health Programs for Older Persons, a division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), are organized to carry out certain purposes of the parent organization as they specifically relate to older persons in accord with and subject to the amended bylaws of NASMHPD. The purposes of the Older Persons Division are to highlight the needs of older persons for mental health services and to promote the quality and variety of preventive, therapeutic, and supportive services for older persons by:

• Compiling and disseminating information about the status of programs for older persons with mental illness in the states;
• Informing members of current and prospective legislation and funding of services for older persons;
• Encouraging states to share planning, programming, research and evaluation in Mental Health Services for older persons;
• Advising NASMHPD on issues relevant to the aged and representing NASMHPD as needed or requested before all groups, organizations, committees, federal and state agencies requesting information and/or input on mental health issues of older persons;
• Advocating for access to quality services for older persons;
• Promoting services consistent with the cultural and value preferences of older persons;

Serving on key groups, committees and other organizations who are attempting to address the mental health issues of older persons on behalf of NASMHPD;

• Promoting the development of research, education and training, which would allow the states to enhance mental health programs for older persons; and
• Performing other functions as delegated by NASMHPD regarding mental health services for older persons

Address
66 Canal Center Plaze, Suite 302 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Call 7037399333

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The President's Task Force on Returning Veterans aims to address issues related to the provision of mental health services provided to veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their families.

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandria, Virginia 22314 USA

Contact Person / Email
BRIAN.SIMS@NASMHPD.ORG

Call 703 682 5185 

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NASMHPD manages a diverse portfolio of programs focused on effectively identifying and responding to the training and technical assistance needs of an array of entities including:  

• State and local mental health agencies and other systems serving persons with mental health needs;
• Provider organizations;
• Consumers;
• Families;
• Planning and advisory councils; and
• Systems of higher learning.

This assistance covers a variety of administrative, policy, financial, clinical, and program areas. Examples of frequently-addressed topics include:  

• The prevention of coercive practices such as seclusion and restraint
• The planning and implementation of evidence-based practices;
• Successfully achieving the goals of the Federal Mental Health Block Grant Program
• Promoting an understanding of the impact of trauma and the need for trauma-informed care
• Clinical protocols and program design that support recovery and enhance resilience for individuals across the lifespan
• Financing strategies including Medicaid
• Workforce development
• Cross-system collaboration
• Strategic planning; and
• Consumer empowerment including the use of consumer-directed care and the expansion of meaningful roles for consumers in all stages of program/service planning, delivery, and evaluation. 

The State TA Contract is a cross-Center behavioral health technical assistance project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Under this project, States can request support for experts to provide both off-site (e.g., telephonic and web-based) assistance, as well as in-person training and consultation to representatives from the SMHA’s and other designated stakeholders in order to foster and enhance recovery and resiliency-oriented systems, services, and supports. State Mental Health Authorities can request TA on a wide range of issues including, for example:

• Improving Services & Service Delivery Systems: e.g., tailoring care to specific groups, such as older adults;implementing programs for persons in early stages of psychosis; expanding the use of person-centeredtreatment planning; developing crisis response services; implementing and ensuring fidelity to evidence-basedpractices (e.g., assertive community treatment, supported employment, cognitive behavioral therapy,coordinated specialty care, etc.); increasing early identification & referral to care for young people; promotingtrauma-informed, recovery-oriented care; etc.
• Systems Planning/Operations: e.g., strategic planning; merging mental health and substance abuse agencies;leadership development; staff development; cross sector collaboration; integration of behavioral health andprimary care, etc.
• Expanding the Peer Workforce: training and certification of peer specialists; peer whole health training;supervision of peer specialists; utilizing peer specialists to work with persons who are deaf and hard of hearing,etc.
• Financing/Business Practices: e.g., maximizing Medicaid coverage; addressing behavioral health under amanaged care model; drafting performance-based contract language with providers; rate setting practices;compliance with Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) requirements for fiscal monitoring, etc.
• Parameters: TA under this project cannot be specifically focused on institutional/hospital-based settings. On average, a given TA project includes up to 10 days of consultant time

Contact Person / Email
jenifer.urff@nasmhpd.org

Call (703) 682 7558

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Technical Assistance Coalition delivers web-based training and technical assistance on a range of policy issues to multiple stakeholders in state and local behavioral health systems centered on promoting/enhancing the Mental Health Block Grant.  

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The Children, Youth & Families Division is established to carry out certain purposes and concerns of the parent organization as they specifically relate to children, youth and families in accord with and subject to the amended by-laws of NASMHPD. The purposes of the division are:

• To provide an identifiable focus upon children's mental health services as a substantial portion of the mental health concerns and programs of the states.
• To develop forums for effective collaborative planning, programming, and program review in mental health services regarding programs for children and youth.
• To analyze pertinent materials and policies as these relate to children's mental health. This includes legislation, regulations, guidelines, standards and criteria thereof.
• To propose a variety of new and innovative methods and models for the delivery of more effective mental health services for children and youth.
• To participate with those bodies and individuals involved in the development of standards, regulations, evaluative procedures and other processes which may affect the quality of mental health services for children and youth.
• To perform such other functions regarding mental health services for children and youth as may be directed by the parent organization (NASMHPD).

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Contact Person / Email
David.Miller@nasmhpd.org

Call 703 739 9333

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The Finance Policy Division (FMD) Division provides its members with the opportunity to exchange ideas and information on financing mental health services for both children and adults. It evaluates the impact of changes in financing on the quality and accessibility of mental health services. The primary focus of the Division is to enhance NASMHPD's influence on financing issues through policy analysis, information sharing, and advocacy. At the federal level, the Division will seek to impact the policies and programs of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), especially those services that provide significant financial support to the states for mental health services such as Medicaid's rehabilitation and case management programs. The Medicare benefit for mental health as well as financing for Part D prescription drugs, partial hospitalization, and other programs also will be a focus of the Division. In addition, the Division will address other federal programs that provide flexible funding and serve to leverage other resources (e.g., the maintenance of effort requirements of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Mental Health Block Grant Program).

The Division will address topics immediately relevant to state mental health authorities and will concentrate its work plan on the action steps necessary for states to implement high priority topics within the President's New Freedom Commission Report. It will identify financing strategies that encourage the development of community treatment systems and foster an array of services in the most cost-effective and appropriate settings. The Division will address ways for mental health departments to forge cooperative and productive working relationships with the states' Medicaid offices and other units of state government that finance mental health services.

The FMD will examine financing strategies to develop, expand, and stabilize community support services for people with serious mental illness as well as funding strategies for prevention and early intervention to reduce the burden of mental disorders in our population. Since many of the issues addressed by the Finance Policy Division are of direct significance to the day-to-day operations of state mental health authorities, the FMD maintains a close working relationship with agency directors and commissioners through its Commissioner Division Advisor and also acts as a networking facilitator for issues which cut across NASMHPD's divisions.

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandria, VA 22314 USA

Contact Person / Email
Stuart.Gordon@nasmhpd.org

Call 703 682 7552

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The Legal Division is organized as a division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) to:

• Establish and maintain as an integrated group, members of the legal profession who are legal advisors to state mental health program directors
• Provide legal liaison for state mental health program directors
• Provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas concerning mental health law
• Improve professional responsibility and expertise with the study, discussion, resolution, collection, and dissemination of ideas, information, data, conclusions, and solutions with respect to the legal problems common to the field of mental health

The Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization is an affiliate of the Legal Division of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). Many states were and still are faced with the challenge of providing an array of mental health services in accordance with state and federal mandates and to do so in a cost effective manner. As a result of these state and federal mandates the Interstate Compact on Mental Health and Mental Retardation was enacted by governing bodies of States who chose to be members. The first State to ratify the Compact was Connecticut in 1955. Today, there are forty-five states and the District of Columbia who are members of the Compact.

The Interstate Compact provides an opportunity for member states to provide a vehicle for transferring persons between states for continued treatment, returning a committed person to their state of residency when the individual left a state operated facility on an unauthorized absence, as well as to establish residency in the receiving state. Over the last fifty years, the Compact has proven to be an effective tool to secure clinically appropriate services for the people we serve and their families. The purpose of the Interstate Compact Coordinators Organization is to provide implementation and maintenance of the Interstate Compact as adopted by the participating states through the establishment of a cohesive organization. Each state legislative body enacted laws giving authority to the Interstate Compact Administrator/Coordinator to handle all interstate matters. The designated Coordinator acts as the General Coordinator of Activities under the Compact in his/her respective state

Address
66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 302 Alexandri a, VA 22314 USA

Contact Person / Email
David.Miller@nasmhpd.org

Call 703 739 9333

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The  National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) promotes trauma-informed practices in the delivery of services to people who have experienced violence and trauma and are seeking support for recovery and healing. They may or may not have a diagnosis of mental health or substance use disorders, and may experience traumatic impacts from the experiences of violence that have strained social connections in the family, in the workplace, in childrearing, in housing – and that may have led to consequent health problems – all of which need to be addressed in a trauma-integrated manner. NCTIC is guided by the following fundamental beliefs.

The NCTIC has provided on-site training and technical assistance to nearly every state in the country to develop and improve trauma-informed environments across the spectrum of public health programs.

• Training and technical assistance has been provided to residential programs
• Criminal justice and homeless programs
• Networks of training, educational, and learning collaboratives
• Community-based agencies; and
• Less formal gatherings of people seeking trauma support.

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The Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) provides modest funding awards to States, the District of Columbia, and the Territories not currently participating in the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant* (T-SIG) program. These flexible TTI funds are to be used to identify, adopt, and strengthen transformation initiatives and activities that can be implemented in the State, either through a new initiative or expansion of one already underway, and should focus on one or multiple phases of system change. TTI recipients are chosen on the following criteria: Transformation readiness, demonstrated by examples of transformation initiatives already underway using State funds, Block grant funds, other identified public or private resources;

• Existing multi-agency collaboration on transformation initiatives;
• Proposed initiatives rooted in systems change with the greatest quality impact;
• Identification of other state resources and infrastructure which may leverage the TTI award funds for the proposed initiative; and
• Realistic timeframes, concrete activities, and measurable outcomes for the proposed initiative.

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The PSR Advanced Practice (PSR AP) supports clinicians and managers responsible for providing PSR services.  The PSR AP provides support to the field by transferring evidence-based knowledge, providing expert clinical consultation, developing and presenting training and education events for the field, developing website/resources, and project management including provision of secretariat support for the PSR Provincial Advisory Committee and the community of PSR practice.

Address
BC PSR Advanced Practice Douglas College 700 Royal Ave New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5 Canada

Contact Person / Email
caseyr@douglascollege.ca

Call 604 527 5400

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Country
Australia

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Building strong connections and participating in your community is an important part of creating a valued and fulfilling life for yourself. With outreach and community-based support services, we assist you to stay healthy in your home and work to empower you to live an independent life. Varying levels of support are available, and we provide personalised programs to ensure services are relevant to you and your needs.

• Albany Fellowship House: Our Albany based Community Resource Centre, Fellowship House, is here to support people with mental health concerns with a range of social connection and group supports.
• Commonwealth Psychosocial Support Measure: The National Psychosocial Support Measure (NPSM) changed its name on the 1st of July 2022 to Commonwealth Psychosocial Support. The Commonwealth Psychosocial Support (CPS) provides time-limited supports to eligible individuals. An NDIS eligibility decision is not required for new applicants to be eligible to receive psychosocial support and individuals may be supported to make an NDIS eligibility application as part of their program.
• Hearing Voices Network WA: The Hearing Voices Network WA (HVNWA) is a Richmond Wellbeing program and part of the global Hearing Voices Movement. HVNWA is a resource for people living in Western Australia who hear voices and experience other unusual perceptions, offering a place for the voice-hearing community to access relevant information, training, and support groups.
• Individualised Community Living Strategy (ICLS): The ICLS team will support you to set up your ICLS home (if applicable) and develop an Individual Funding Plan outlining clear and achievable goals to meet you wherever you are on your path to recovery. Your ICLS Recovery Support Worker will work with you to build capacity and confidence assisting you to overcome any obstacles as they arise.
• MH Connext: MH Connext is a free community mental health service provided by Richmond Wellbeing, for people aged 18+, who have a mental health treatment plan and live in the Perth metro area. This recovery-oriented program connects patients experiencing severe and complex mental health issues to the right mental health care and support at the right time, for up to 24 weeks. Our highly experienced and professional mental health clinicians will provide you with personalised and inclusive support.
• Moorditj Djerpin Wirrin: This service supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who are affected by mental health, alcohol and other drugs issues. Staff will lead the service and support clients and families through a cultural model that provides a holistic and strengths based approach to recovery- Recovery Outreach Service: For those exiting Richmond Wellbeing supported accommodation sites,
• Recovery Outreach Service (ROS) is available to support you in settling back into the community. Providing up to six months’ recovery coaching and assistance, ROS is a natural extension of services, where we assist you to transition to independent living in the community and develop skills to take ownership of your life.
• Queer Company: Queer Company is a project which aims to develop the workforce and cultural capacity of the Mental Health and Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) sector to provide more inclusive services to LGBTQIA+ people.

Country
Australia

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Country
Australia

Visit Website

In order to encourage further bonding and give more structure, a wide range of both indoor and outdoor activities have been included in the programme. While vocational skills such as clay modeling, candle making and cooking have been there for more than a decade, new skills like learning to work on computers, photography and making paper bags have been added on recently to make learning more creative, fun filled and relevant to the present times. An annual out station trip is also an integral part of the programme it targets learning certain basic skills such as taking responsibility for themselves, sharing space with someone else, working in a team, money management skills, maintain personal hygiene, self-dressing, grooming and meal time etiquettes to name of few them.

In response to an overwhelming demand Sanjivini started this workshop in 2003. Immensely popular, it is a three week long programme consisting of modules systematically designed to facilitate self growth. It helps participants gain a better insight into themselves as well as learn basic helping skills that can be used to enhance the quality of people related work they are already doing - like teaching, leading teams, conducting workshops or being a parent. It is held in the month of August every year.

Sanjivini has played a major role in building up societal acceptance towards counselling. It has done this through years of awareness building and outreach programmes. Sanjivini has also been concerned with the preventive aspects of mental health and its programmes have aimed at dispelling ignorance and negative attitudes towards emotional problems; giving information on how such problems can be identified, prevented and on when and where to seek help. With the aid of our literature, slide shows, plays and lectures we have been reaching out to various groups. These include social organizations, other NGOs, corporate houses, schools, colleges, hospitals, field workers, students, and various groups.  Some of the Community Outreach Programmes Sanjivini has done recently are for:

• Air Force Wives Association
• VIMHANS
• Mother’s International School
• Delhi Public School
• Crime Against Women’s Cell
• Delhi Universit
• Modern School
• Delhi Social Welfare Board
• Inner Wheel Club
• Manas
• NCERT
• Loyala College
• Air Force (Allahabad)
• Lady Shri Ram College
• TARSHI
• Aman Biradari & NAZ Foundation.

Sanjivini runs two centers, for anyone wanting to talk about a problem. At both our units, men and women of varying ages and backgrounds, walk in, telephone, or write, feeling stressed, confused, distressed, helpless and hopeless; full of guilt, shame or fear due to their problems. Some are lonely, but unable to talk to a family member. Yet, the need to share their feelings and talk to someone who would understand and help them find a solution that brings them to Sanjivini. Here, volunteers listen, befriend and provide support and reassurance, and most importantly, empowerment.

Volunteers at Sanjivini are special in that they are warm, sensitive and genuinely concerned about the person they are trying to help. This concern is communicated to the distressed person and creates a comfortable atmosphere encouraging the person to give vent to his pent-up feelings and emotions. By being alert and sensitive to these feelings and emotions, the volunteer shows acceptance and understanding. Having given vent to his feelings, the person becomes calmer, and is able to look at his problem more objectively. Having regained objectivity, the client, with facilitation from his counsellor, explores the various options available to him and decides for himself which option to choose in order to resolve his problem. Once the client has found his own solution, with a little facilitation, his inherent strength is revived and reinforced. This process of self-help strengthens the person’s ability to face his current crisis and empowers him to confront and overcome difficulties in the future with hope, and greater faith and belief in himself. There is no fixed time frame for a person to become capable of coping with his life situation independent of Sanjivini. This process varies greatly on the self-awareness of the client and his personal motivation.

To ensure that the recovery programme is comprehensive, each case is systematically discussed, assessed and evaluated at each step with the entire working team. Whenever necessary, the therapist communicates with the client’s treating psychiatrist and seeks his recommendations. Each observation and discussion is carefully documented.

Family Therapy forms an important part of the programme. Most of the families of a mentally ill person suffer from guilt, shame, despair, fear, isolation and confusion. Most of them have either incorrect or inadequate information about the illness, its causes, treatment, its limitation and the prognosis. This gap is bridged by family sessions, which are held several times in a month. During the course of the programme, families are also trained in skills which prepare them to handle their sick relative in the long run, like providing appropriate care, effective communication, monitoring medication, identifying relapses etc.

This therapy works as the most powerful technique in the recovery process. After many years of isolation, for the first time, the clients come to the realization that their problem is not peculiar, thus creating a strong sense of belongingness. Behaviour Therapy techniques like Shaping and Modeling are extensively used to wipe out disruptive behavior and to replace it with more appropriate ones. As they progress, the clients are guided to consolidate the new perspectives and through techniques like Reinforcement and Role-plays, encouraged to transfer them to the family and to the outside world.

The programme lays great emphasis on building and establishing a collaborative therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist. Held at least once a week, the interventions are based on the structured and time limited approach of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. With this therapy, the client usually regains insight and is able to lead at least a somewhat, meaningful life.

When a client is referred to us, our in-house psychiatrist assesses several aspects, which help in deciding whether the person will benefit from the programme. Once the client is selected to join, the family and the client are informed in detail about the programme. At this stage, based on the age, current level of psychopathology and the social circumstances of the client, a treatment plan is drawn out. The treatment process is started in a calm, reassuring and consistent environment.

Twice, every month an old client meet is also organized where clients who have been discharged spend an entire day at Sanjivini. Through this, Sanjivini provides continuous support to them. Old clients are also encouraged to come for individual sessions with counsellors on Saturdays to help them with the challenges they face in their daily life. While aiming to minimize the disabilities and enhancing capabilities, these activities also provide clients with a routine, to inculcate a work habit and allow them an opportunity to pick up useful skills and develop confidence in themselves as constructive and independent human beings. The programme is dynamic and depending on the composition of the group, new activities are routinely added.

Some of the people who visit Sanjivini need more specialized help than we can offer. They may need a psychiatrist or a psychologist, a lawyer or a de-addiction centre, an old age home or another NGO. Such people are referred to the appropriate professional agency/individual. If required, we continue to see them in Sanjivini to support them through the emotional issues their situation may evoke. We have quite an extensive database of such facilities, which we update and refresh regularly.

Sanjivini offers support to the primary caregivers of people with psychiatric disabilities as a part of the rehabilitation centre programme. Families are encouraged to meet, bond, ventilate and seek support from one another.

The Rehabilitation Centre provides services for those whose mental illness has effected their functioning in the world around them but who are not beyond hope. The objective of the Rehabilitation Centre is to help persons with schizophrenia regain their social skills and enhance their psychological resources, so that they can cope with the world outside. The Centre offers a comprehensive rehabilitation programme to help them integrate with society. Over the years the rehab centre has enabled thousands of people with mental illness across social & economic barriers lead a life of dignity.

Every year Sanjivini holds an in-house training programme to train counsellors for the crisis intervention unit. These volunteers are chosen very carefully through a strict stringent screening procedure, as they are required to deal with delicate and significant issues concerning another person's life.

Caring Connections are a national service for carers (family/friends) of people being treated within forensic mental health services throughout Scotland. Forensic Mental Health Carers are people of any age who provide unpaid support for a relative or friend who is within forensic mental health services, including people in low, medium and high security hospitals throughout Scotland as well as in community settings with the support of Forensic Community Mental Health Teams,

Contact Person / Email
lorraine@supportinmindscotland.org.uk

Call 07951066234

Forensic mental health services assess and treat people who are called ‘mentally disordered offenders’ under the Mental Health Act and who are detained in secure health facilities. The actions they are taking inlcude:

• Produced a major research study “Exploring the Experiences of family members of people in forensic mental health services” (‘forensic carers’) See report and discussion paper by clicking here
• Facilitating the National Forensic Carers Network
• Working to implement an action plan to improve information and support for forensic carers

Caring Connections

We have now set up 'Caring Connections' - our new national service for carers (family/friends) of people being treated within forensic mental health services throughout Scotland.

Forensic Mental Health Carers are people of any age who provide unpaid support for a relative or friend who is within forensic mental health services, including people in low, medium and high security hospitals throughout Scotland as well as in community settings with the support of Forensic Community Mental Health Teams,

The three medium secure units are in Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow, and the high secure unit is the State Hospital at Carstairs.  There are other low secure units throughout Scotland.

The service is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. Our National Forensic Carer co-ordinator Lorraine Keith explained: "We will provide support and appropriate information to carers throughout the key stages of their journey through the Forensic Mental Health Services. 

"By doing this the carer may feel better supported and informed of their own rights and more able to support their relative/friend who is receiving care and treatment.  Supporting families and friends in this way may go some way to maintaining or rebuilding relationships.

"Our recent research, ‘Exploring Family Carer Involvement in Forensic Mental Health Services’ (available by clicking here) found that forensic carers need support right from the first admission of their relative/friend to forensic services through to eventual discharge in some cases.

"Forensic carers are often not seen as carers by others – even statutory providers – therefore increasing their sense of isolation and emotional distress not to mention the stigma that is often associated with forensic services."

Lorraine is keen to hear from anyone who may be interested in this service, whether a carer or service provider.

Please contact Lorraine Keith on 07951066234 or lorraine@supportinmindscotland.org.uk for more information or to let me have your thoughts on this service.

Contact Person / Email
lorraine@supportinmindscotland.org.uk