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Working for Better Understanding,
Prevention and Care
 "They don't do heart surgery at the Centre, but they save people's
lives in other ways."
Barry Arymowicz, client
The
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is the largest mental health and addiction
facility in Canada and is recognized for its excellence. It was formed in early 1998
through the merger of the Addiction Research Foundation, the Clarke Institute of
Psychiatry, the Donwood Institute and the Queen Street Mental Health Centre and is
affiliated with the University of Toronto. Since the merger, the Centre has focused
on a seamless integration of addiction and mental health services in a functional
and flexible environment. Internationally, the Centre has been designated by the
World Health Organization as one of only four Centres of Excellence in mental health
and addiction in the world.
Through
accessible treatment, community services, research, education and prevention, the
Centre works to improve the quality of life for people who are struggling with mental
illness or addiction and to support their families and friends. In the end, this
makes for healthier communities.
"For me it was the courage, and I guess the courage
comes from saying 'hey, let's make a change.' And the courage to continue to do that.
It's so great now ... it is so good for me now. I love my life."
Susan E. Gapka
Courage to Come Back Award Recipient
Care
"One of the things about working with people who suffer
from mental illness or people who struggle with addictions is that, to the public,
this may seem like a discouraging environment -- a place that's not filled with hope.
But for those of us who work clinically, just the opposite is true. I find a great
deal of professional fulfillment in this environment because many, many people get
better."
Dr. David Goldbloom,
Physician-in-Chief
The
Centre is committed to providing comprehensive, well co-ordinated, accessible care
for people with addictions or severe mental illness. We have created a continuum
of clinical programs, support and rehabilitation to meet the diverse needs of people
who are at risk and at different stages of their lives and illnesses. Our services
include assessment, brief early interventions, inpatient programs, continuing care
and family support. We also address the larger issues relating to the four major
factors affecting health: housing, employment, social support and income support.
Our
client-centred philosophy of care recognizes that the client has individual social,
physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs. Wherever possible, the care
provided incorporates the preferences, needs, aspirations and cultural beliefs of
each individual.
Addiction
The
Centre's addiction treatment is based on a harm reduction philosophy, an approach
that focuses on decreasing adverse health, social and economic consequences of alcohol
or drug use. Clients' goals range from reduced use to total abstinence. We match
clients with the least intrusive and most effective treatment service that will meet
their needs. Our in-house addiction programs include the following:
- General Addiction Assessment and Treatment Programs, including Brief Treatment
such as Guided Self-Change, Structured Relapse Prevention, and the Evening Health
Service
- Day/Residential Treatment
- Treatment Programs for Special Populations including youth, women, lesbian,
gay and bisexual people and older persons
- Special services including Substance Abuse Program for African and Caribbean
Youth (SAPACCY), the Cocaine Service, Drug Treatment Court, and Family and Aboriginal
Services
- Addiction Medicine
- Concurrent Disorders, which offers an integrated treatment approach for people
facing concurrent addiction and mental health problems.
Mental Health
The
Centre provides a wide range of inpatient, outpatient, and community-based treatment
programs including the following:
- Neuropsychiatry (for people with neurological problems and associated psychiatric
problems)
- Schizophrenia and Continuing Care
- Dual Diagnosis (mental health problems coupled with developmental, emotional
or behavioural difficulties)
- Mood and Anxiety
- Law and Mental Health
- Child Psychiatry
- General Psychiatry, including Emergency Services
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Society, Women and Health.
Prevention
"Prevention involves a host of things. It's not just
about preventing substance abuse, preventing mental health problems. It's about supporting
health and well-being and having environments that really are healthy environments."
Akwatu Khenti
Director, Education and Training Services
The
Centre is committed to working with communities
throughout Ontario to create environments that support health and prevent illness.
Through our network of community offices, Centre consultants work with individuals,
local service providers and community groups to apply initiatives in the community
and design evidence-based systems and approaches. Consultation, support and training
focus on preventing problems, promoting health and planning and delivering treatment.
By providing information to the general public we empower people with the knowledge
to reduce the likelihood, recurrence and/or intensity of addiction or mental health
problems for themselves or others.
Understanding
"Only through education can we hope to improve the
understanding of mental health and addiction problems and thus, foster support for
people who struggle with these challenges."
Dr. Paul Garfinkel,
President & CEO
One
of the Centre's goals is to be a leader in creating, applying and disseminating knowledge.
Each year, the Centre receives many research grants, fellowships and awards, resulting
in the publication of hundreds of scientific articles and studies. Our research guides
our public policy priorities and is transformed into practical resource materials
and training programs, which inform the practice of professionals and help educate
the general public. Advancing our understanding of mental illness and addiction is
key to future improvements in prevention and clinical care. Working with communities,
we aim to foster understanding and reduce the stigma associated with these illnesses.
Research
Each
year the Centre undertakes hundreds of research studies, many of which are groundbreaking.
Our research focuses on three main areas:
- Neuroscience,
which aims to increase our understanding about body chemicals, genetic materials,
brain structures and the interaction of drugs with biological systems
- Clinical,
which evaluates the efficacy of new treatments and how specific treatments are working
in practice
- Social
Policy and Prevention, which provides up-to-date information about trends
in alcohol and drug use and related issues, as well as assessing the impact of policy
initiatives and investigating the environmental and individual factors that can prevent
alcohol and drug problems as well as mental disorders.
Professional Education
One of the ways we translate knowledge into action is through training
and education. As a teaching hospital, we provide training to over 600 undergraduate
and postgraduate students each year. We also offer continuing education programs
for practising professionals and service providers in addiction and mental health
as well as the broader health, social services and education fields.
Public Education
The
Centre provides community-based education, outreach and prevention programs. Our
Information Service gives Ontario residents access to current, accurate information
about alcohol, drug and mental health issues. Each year we respond to more than 45,000
calls.
Resource Materials
The
Centre has developed a wide range of resource materials based on solid research and
evaluation. They give practical information across the full continuum of care, from
prevention to treatment. Materials available through the Centre include resources
in the areas of counselling, reference and periodicals, clinical tools, programs
and program evaluation, policy and development, and public education.
Influencing Change
With
its role in research, education, prevention and care, the Centre is in a position
to speak to issues of system-wide concern and to influence policy makers at all levels
of government. Through policy development, the Centre can influence change. Our vision
of mental health and addiction within the broader context of both the social and
health care systems can further health promotion and prevention. In co-operation
with community partners and government, the Centre can work to create sound social
policies, address identified issues, meet public needs, enhance the effectiveness
of services and programs and reduce the stigma associated with mental health and
addiction problems.
(See Best Advice and Position
Papers for more.)
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1-800-463-6273
