Adult and Youth Mental Health Services

We offer several different mental services for adults and youth. Each service has different eligibility requirements. Before referring, check the requirements for each service.

For mental health emergencies, call 911
For mental health crisis, call COAST at 1-866-550-5205 ext. 1

Services

Assertive Community Treatment Team (16 years of age and over)
The Assertive Community Treatment Team is designed to help individuals with the most serious and persistent mental illness. Individuals served by this service often have co-existing problems such as homelessness, substance abuse or involvement with the judicial system.

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for this service, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Live with a psychotic (e.g. schizophrenia) or bipolar disorder with psychotic features
- Experience ongoing illness that impacts several aspects of their life including: activities of daily living, housing, finances, general health and relationships
- Have had multiple hospital admissions
- Need treatment support provided in their home or community
- Have not been successful with less intensive programming
- Have a focus on recovery
- Can work with a team of professionals
Case Management (16 years of age and over)
We offer case management services for residents. These services focus on providing support to individuals with serious, ongoing mental health needs.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Region's clinical case management services, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Suffer from ongoing and serious mental illness
- Have difficulty managing medication and their side effects
- Need help coordinating multiple services
- Need help with life skills and activities of daily living
- Require education and counselling for themselves and their family
Early Intervention in Psychosis (14 to 35 years of age)
Psychosis refers to a loss of contact with reality. Psychosis can be treated, and many people make a good recovery, especially if they get help early.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of psychosis include:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions (false beliefs)
- Paranoia
- Disorganized thoughts and speech
Eligibility criteria

To qualify for the Early Psychosis Intervention service, a person must:
- Be 14 to 35 years of age
- Suspect they're experiencing symptoms of psychosis, or have been diagnosed with a first episode of psychosis
- Never have been treated for psychosis or with an anti-psychotic medication for less than six months
If a person doesn't meet the criteria for this service, we'll provide information for other services that are available.

Referrals

Referrals can be made by yourself, family member or friend, community agency or health care professional.

Family Education Group

Research shows that family involvement supports recovery. A free family education group is available to those who are supporting a family member in the Early Psychosis Intervention service. Family members can also seek support with our program even if their child won’t engage.

This group provides an opportunity to learn more about the signs, symptoms and treatment of psychosis, as well as many other helpful ways to support your loved one through their recovery process.

For more information, family and self-referrals can call 905-688-2854 ext. 7262.
Youth Mental Health and Addiction Service (16 to 25 years of age)
We offer two streams of care for youth needing mental health treatment and support. These services are provided in your home, our office or at a location of your choice in the community. Our staff will work together with you on a plan for recovery. We can provide you with counselling, education, and support that can assist you in making choices about your life.

Treatment Stream (17 to 25 years of age)

This service provides assessment, treatment plan and counselling for young people experiencing emerging mental health or addiction concerns. Participants must:
- Have no prior specialized child / mental health treatment in the last six months
- Not meet referral criteria for other mental health and addiction services
- Have exceeded the maximum age of other youth mental health services
- Be a Niagara resident
Transition Support (16 to 19 years of age)

This service offers transition support and help navigating adult mental health system and community services. It's for young people with complex mental health or addiction issues who are moving into adult mental health and addiction services. Those eligible include:
- Youth who don't qualify for existing primary care mental health or addiction services
- Those who are experiencing barriers to existing services
- Individuals who have not received adolescent mental health or addiction services in the last 12 months
- Clients who are no longer eligible for adolescent mental health or addiction services due to age
- Niagara residents
If you have questions about someone's eligibility, speak to an intake worker at 905-688-2854 ext. 7262.
Telemedicine (16 years of age and over)

Telemedicine is a service that provides consultation appointments with a psychiatrist through secure video conferencing. It's available for people 16 years of age and older.

Video conferencing appointments can be held in our offices in Thorold, Niagara Falls, Welland or through partnerships with other agencies in St. Catharines and Port Colborne.

Individuals will complete an initial assessment with a nurse or nurse practitioner before meeting the psychiatrist. Reasons for referring to this program include making a mental health diagnosis and evaluating medications.

Only physicians and nurse practitioners are able to refer to this program, and they must be willing to follow and provide the psychiatrist's treatment recommendations.
Geriatric Case Management
Our geriatric program provides counselling, treatment and ongoing follow-up support to seniors in a safe environment of their choosing. Program staff includes a nurse, mental health caseworker, occupational therapist and social worker who provide:
- Counselling
- Treatment
- Health teachings (medication, diagnosis, symptoms and recovery)
- Support for family and links to community supports
- Advocacy
Symptoms

If someone you know is experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, they may be living with a mental illness:
- Mood changes, including burst of emotion, feeling excited or depressed, increased energy or impulsivity
- Change in sleep patterns or spending habits
- Hallucinations - seeing and hearing people, or smelling, tasting or feeling things that are not real
- Hold strong beliefs that may be unusual and out of character
- Excessive worry, suspicious thinking, rapid speech
- Cognitive problems related to mental health challenges such as confused thinking, trouble concentrating, poor memory or finding it hard to engage in conversation
Take a geriatric depression screening test to identify the early symptoms.

Eligibility criteria

To benefit from this program, clients must be:
- Age 60 or older
- Living with significant mental health challenges that may be undiagnosed
- Diagnosed with an illness such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- Willing to work towards recovery
- Live in their own home or a retirement home

Referrals

For a self-referral, or to refer a family member or friend, contact the Access Line at 1-866-550-5205
If you're a community agency or would like to refer yourself, a family member / friend to the Early Psychosis Intervention or Youth Mental Health and Addictions services, make an online referral
If you're a health care provider (physician, nurse practitioner, community health centre, walk-in clinic or hospital), visit mental health resources for health care professionals