Our Approach to Mental Health
We recognize that problems exist and are expressed in the behaviors of those individuals affected, usually through the use of substances (alcohol, drugs, chemicals, smoking).
Outcomes often reflect family violence, problems with the law, feuding, self-injury, isolating oneself, angry outbursts, poor work performance and many more. These problems can surface at various stages in our lifetime.
In collaboration with community members and community staff, we hope to implement approaches that are community based and culturally relevant. Our approach will respect the individuals beliefs encompassing aspects of spiritual, emotional, physical and mental well-being of the community, and their members.
It is the objective of the Mental Health Team to provide Quality Mental Health Services to the UCCM First Nation communities:
- Aundeck Omni Kaning
- Sheguiandah
- Sheshegwaning
- Whitefish River
- Zhiibaahaasing
Through a holistic approach, the goals of the program include:
- The inclusion of traditional approaches in the Continuum of Care
- Shared Care Models reflecting Health Promotion, Prevention Activities, Treatment, Support and Aftercare
- Promoting self-care reflecting ownership and planning relevant to individuals identified needs.
Mental Health Team
- Mental Health Team Lead/Case Manager
- Traditional Coordinator
- Psychologist
- Mental Health Nurse
- Clinician
- Maternal Child Health Coordinator
- Partner in Parenting - Healthy Babies, Healthy Children
- Mental Health Program Assistant
We work as an Integrated Mental Health Team with Noojmowin Teg Health Centre Psychologist and the Traditional Coordinator.
What Do We Provide
The Mental Health Team provides mental health services and referrals to other appropriate Mental Health Agencies that incorporate:
- Easy access to services located within your community
- Reflective of client needs (as identified by the client)
- Individual, family, marital, and group counseling
- Follow-up and aftercare
- Coordination with other Health Care Providers
- Community Education
- Activities which promote Healthy Life styles
- Support to Community Workers
- Most importantly Confidentiality
- Promoting Community Ownership and Resolution to Issues
Where to Find Us
Your Community Health Workers, and Community Health Nurses know how to reach us. Depending upon the service required, the Mental Health Team will assign a worker to you who will attempt to address your needs as soon as possible and contact you for an initial interview.
About Confidentiality
A common concern that people have coming in for help is privacy. All of us have feelings and thoughts we would rather not share, and problems we would rather no one knew about. There are situations in which we are LEGALLY required to contact the appropriate authorities.
For us to be able to help you, we need to know about these private matters. Our Mental Health Team may hold Case Conferences to plan our assistance to you, in most cases you would be involved as well.
WE WILL KEEP THESE MATTERS PRIVATE and CONFIDENTIAL as much as possible, but there are some limits.
- We must report any suspicion of Child Abuse to the appropriate authorities.
- We must break confidentiality and obtain the necessary help for you, if we feel you are:
- A danger to yourself
- A danger to others
- Unable to look after yourself
This information is only given to those agencies to protect or help you or others at risk i.e. Doctors, Police and Child Protection Workers. Otherwise, we cannot share information without your written permission. This will be enforced by the Mental Health Team.
To view our Final Report Grant from August, 2007 (in PDF format), please
click here.