Mental Health & Addictions

Inpatient Psychiatric Services: The 21-bed inpatient psychiatric unit is designated by the Ministry of Health as a Schedule 1 facility and is governed by the Mental Health Act and the Health Care Consent Act. This means that a patient who meets certain risk criteria may be admitted involuntarily. The focus of an inpatient admission is to treat acute symptoms in order to stabilize a patient’s mental illness and initiate a treatment plan. The goal is for the patient to then successfully transition into the community for ongoing treatment and support, so long as there is a need for mental health services. The inpatient unit provides services in an interdisciplinary team model and works closely with community partners to improve access to resources that individuals require in their recovery process.  

Psychiatric Assessment Nurse (PAN):  A specialized mental health nurse provides an assessment to the Chatham and Wallaceburg Site Emergency Departments (ED) and any inpatient unit throughout CKHA on a 24/7 basis.  A mental health assessment in the ED is completed face to face. Once the assessment is complete, it is shared with the most responsible nurse and physician, at which time a treatment decision is made either to admit or to discharge for community follow-up.  Our PAN partners with many other community agencies with a goal of creating a treatment plan that allows the client to return to the community with a coordinated treatment plan in place.  

Community based services:  MHAP has partnered with Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton Kent (CMHA LK). Together, we provide an integrated mental health and addictions service. 

Outpatient Services: Mental Health Counseling and Treatment, Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, Early Psychosis Intervention Program – Today Not Tomorrow (TNT), Psychogeriatric Mental Health Outreach Team (GMHOT), Addictions Assessment, Treatment and Referral Program, Concurrent Disorders Program, Problem Gambling and Eating Disorders, Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine Clinic, Assertive Community Treatment Program.

Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic: The RAAM clinic is intended to provide patients with immediate access to evidence-based addiction care. RAAM clinics are accessible to patients without appointments or medical referrals. They offer both medication and psychosocial interventions from the first visit, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing the patient’s substance use. The goal of the RAAM clinic is to meet patients where they are at and work with them to create a care plan that fits with their goals. The clinic model is very flexible, it is intended to be (a) low-barrier, (b) walk-in, and (c) patient-centred. Click here to view clinic hours and more info.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program: The ACT program is a community-based, recovery model of care for individuals who have severe and persistent mental illness. ACT assertively reaches out to clients where and when they need help – directly in the home and in the community. Click here for more info.

Withdrawal Management Service: CKHA’s Withdrawal Management Service (WMS) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Chatham Site in the former outpatient Mental Health & Addictions Clinic. WMS is an evidence based, recovery-oriented, harm reduction approach to drug and alcohol addiction and offers a safe and supportive environment to withdraw from substances and initiate follow-up addictions treatment. Our service aims to provide a holistic model of care encompassing an individual’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being to work towards the goals that the individual has identified. Click here for more info.