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