OUR FOCUS

Mental Health & Addictions

This change initiative focuses on creating a system where mental health and addiction services are attached to all primary care settings, such as family doctors’ offices.

Making sure mental health and addiction services are attached to primary care settings

Through a phased approach, we plan to attach mental health and addiction counsellors to primary care models through the region. This work will be completed through the completion of the following:

  • Integrate mental health and addiction services at the primary care level
  • Identify all mental health and addiction assets across the region
  • Develop a phased plan to attach mental health and addiction workers to primary care models
  • Implement the plan to attach mental health and addiction workers to primary care models

This initiative, in association with a strategy to ensure that all residents have a primary care home, will enable:

  • A preventative approach where patients with less severe mental health and addiction issues are assisted in primary care, reducing the likelihood a patient will require more care
  • Enhanced primary care capacity for diagnosis and management of mental health and addiction issues
  • Seamless transitions to higher-level mental health and addiction services when needed