Recognizing that most health needs are met in the community and at the primary care level, mental health services have evolved from a more facility-based model to a community-based model. Inpatient and outpatient services have been in existence for years, however, more recently community-based mental health teams and Shared Care were created in a major drive toward reaching, and being reached by, more people in their own community environment.

Who We Are

There are five community/outpatient services in the Capital District Mental Health Program offering services to the Metropolitan area, Hants and all of Halifax County. The five teams include: Community Mental Health Bayers Road, Community Mental Health Bedford-Sackville, Community Mental Health Dartmouth, Community Mental Health Cole Harbour / Eastern HRM and Community Mental Health Hants. We also provide services directly in General Practitioners' offices and in community agencies through Shared Care.

We offer general mental health services for adults. Hants Community also provides child and adolescent mental health services.

Community/outpatient and Shared Care Mental Health Services are provided by inter-disciplinary teams including clinicians and learners from nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, social work, psychiatry, and other health care professions.

Staff provide services to people who are experiencing mental illness such as complex depression, anxiety, complicated adjustment disorders, bipolar illness and schizophrenia. We work with others in the community to promote mental health and to reduce the risk and impact of mental illness.

Services We Provide

Services offered vary depending on the issues/illness the person presents with. Some people are seen for assessment only; others may have a set number of individual treatment sessions or group programs, while those with more serious and persistent illness, resulting in disability, are supported by the service over a longer period of time.

People may receive services in an office, in the community, or in their home, depending on their need and the type of treatments being provided. A range of different treatments are available within mental health services:

• Mental Health Assessment involves meeting for a discussion to gather information, identify problem areas, clarify a diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan.
• Consultation is available from the different professions to assist family doctors or other primary care providers. We can assist with clarification of diagnosis, medication review, treatment recommendations, information on resources, etc. This can be done through a direct referral, or where available, through Shared Care.
• Group Therapy has been shown to be a very effective treatment for many mental health needs. A variety of group programs are offered at each site.
  Some examples include: Anxiety/Panic Management, Coping With Depression, Self-Esteem/Assertiveness, Stress Management, Relationship, and Healthy Living.
• Individual Therapy can include a range of interventions including counselling, medication therapy, psychotherapy, etc.
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation - We provide a range of services to assist people who have major psychiatric disabilities. The focus is to improve a person’s connections and participation within their community.
• Family Education is provided for family and friends of individuals living with a mental illness.
• Prevention and Promotion - A growing number of staff are working closely with primary care providers in the community (such as General Practitioners, schools, outreach centres) to increase awareness, and promote wellness.
• Community Education - Staff provide information and education to community groups and other health care providers on a variety of mental health topics.
• Access to Other Mental Health Services such as day treatment, inpatient care, specialty consultation, etc., can be facilitated when needed.

These services are normally offered Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm. Depending on need, groups and other services are occasionally offered in the evening or on the weekend.

Community Mental Health Services and Shared Care are recent developments (within the past six years) and are growing and developing within the communities they are serving. We enjoy working with agencies and community members to look at new ways of doing things.

Hours of Service

Monday through Friday  8:30am - 4:30pm (excluding Holidays). The Emergency Psychiatric Assessment Services (Nova Scotia Hospital (902) 464-3114; QEII Health Sciences Centre (902) 473-2043) can be contacted for emergencies weekdays after 4:30pm and on weekends and holidays.

Groups are sometimes offered during evening hours to help facilitate attendance.

How to Access our Services

People are often referred for service by their family doctor. Referral from an agency, family or an individual (self-referral) can also be accepted.

For more information, contact the Community Mental Health Team closest to you!

Last Updated: 3/18/2009 2:22:35 PM