For Mental Health Counselling Information contact:
Jacqui Morrissey M.E.d., O.A.T.R., CCC
Mental Health Coordinator
519-672-4079 ext 238
For Crisis Counsellor contact:
Eileen Hagar, M.A., R.S.S.W.
Crisis Counsellor
519-672-4079 ext 231
Mental Health is an important part of caring for the whole person - body, mind, emotions (heart), and spirit. We Know that if one part of us is suffering it puts stress on other parts of us as well. Therefore mental health care is part of bringing balance to the whole person. We strive to work together with your other supports, (i.e.traditional healer, doctor, dietitian, family, and others) to help you achieve health and well being.
Our program offers counselling for older children, teens, adults, couples and families. For urgent situations we have a Crisis Counsellor who will assist those in crisis and their families. Our crisis worker provides prevention, intervention, referral, advocacy, and short-term counselling as needed. All crisis referrals are prioritized and responded to promptly.
Counselling provides support for those having challenges with emotions, thoughts, behaviors, or life experiences. Counsellors help with these kinds of challenges through teaching about feelings, thoughts and behaviours; by offering techniques to help manage stress, anger, and frustration; by helping you gain perspective on your life challenges so you can make better choices; by offering compassionate listening when you just want someone to understand what you are really going through. Counselling can also help you to identify personal strengths and other resources to assist you to achieve balance in your life. It can help you find meaning, solve problems, or give you the strength to work through difficult life changes. Some of the most common mental health issues First Nations (Indigenous Nations of Canada) are addressing in counselling are: stress, anxiety, depression, anger and violence issues, relationship problems, childhood trauma, loss/grief, loss of identity/purpose.
What is Crisis Intervention? It is the intervention or help that is provided when a crisis exists and has disrupted the normal functioning of an individual or family.
The Crisis Counsellor helps with the following?
- conducts intake
- face to face crisis counselling
- intervention and planning
- community referrals
- provides advocacy
- provides follow up
- develops, implements and monitors treatment plans
- establishes ongoing contact with community emergency response services
- helps clients navigate social services, health care and mental health services
The Crisis Counsellor prioritizes crisis calls as follows:
High Risk: individuals require immediate intervention because of a significant risk of harm to self or others. Lacks support system or is unable to identify support system.
Medium Risk: inability to cope with current stressful life event, death and including traumatic stress. Moderate level of dysfunction. There is no identified risk of harm to self or others. Some examples include impaired ability to meet basic needs (shelter, educational needs, hygiene).
Low Risk: requires intervention because of subjective distress and/or mild level of dysfunction or difficulty coping with current stressors. An example includes minor mood disturbance and relational conflict.
Referrals
There are two options for making a counselling or crisis appointment :
Option # 1
[ Download The Mental Health/ Crisis Program Referral Form ] and fax to our confidential fax line at: 519-672-7220.
We will call you with an appointment time after reviewing your information.
Option #2
Call the Mental Health Coordinator (519.672.4079 ext. 238) or the Crisis Counsellor (519.672.4079 ext. 231 ) who will do a brief in take with you over the phone to assess your needs. Crisis calls will be responded to immediately. Other referrals will be reviewed by the Mental Health Team and will be assigned a counsellor. Our medical secretary will call you with an appointment time.
We offer counseling for children ages 7 and older, teens and adults. We also provide some couples and family counselling. If we don't offer the kind of support you need we will refer you to appropriate resources in the community. You will usually be able to see a counsellor within 2 weeks. For children's appointments, a parent or guardian is required to meet with the mental health coordinator for a parent meeting before the child (under 16) starts counselling. Confidentiality is strictly followed in counselling as in all of our services at S.O.A.H.A.C.
You are welcome to call our office and talk to one of our counsellors, or leave a message and we will call you back, if you have any questions about our mental health or crisis services.
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[Click here for full Directory Listings]
Mental Health Service Providers
Health Canada, through the First Nations and Inuit Health Benefits program, will only provide payment to you for services rendered to registered Status Indians or Inuit people if you are approved to do so. Services must be approved prior to treatment. The first visit or initial assessment is usually covered by FNIHB but all future visits must be approved by a Psychologist employed with Health Canada. Your client may be approved for up to a maximum of 15 counselling hours based on FNIHB's Short-Term Crisis Counselling Intervention benefits criteria. It is important to know that FNIHB states it does not cover the following services: Psychiatric Services; Psychoanalysis; Alcohol, Drug, and Solvent Abuse Counselling; Parenting and Life Skills Training; Marriage Counselling; Sex Therapy; Services which are part of or used for Legal Action; Court Mandated Therapy; Children in Care of the Children's Aid Society; Individuals who are incarcerated (detention facility, jail, prison); Motor Vehicle Cases (MVA); and Early Intervention Programs for Infants with Delayed Development.
If you are not currently registered as a Mental Health Service Provider with Health Canada you can do so by providing FNIHB with the following information:
- Proof of your Educational Degree (either Ph.D or MSW)
- Proof of current years registration with affiliated governing body of vocation (eg. College of Psychologists or the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers).
- Resume indicating your experience with counselling.
- CPIC or Police Clearance.
- Your Hourly Rate to charge.
This information can be faxed to Health Canada (FNIHB) at 1-800-806-6662. You will be advised of the status of your application within one working week. Please remember to advise us if you are approved. Referrals are made through SOAHAC for counselling to various Mental Health Services Providers in Southwestern Ontario.
FNIHB PH: 1-800-640-0642
FNIHB FAX: 1-800-806-6662
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Aboriginal Healing & Wellness Strategy
programs and services in Ontario
www.ahwsontario.ca/programs/hac.html
Aboriginal Healing Foundation
publications, newsletters and research on aboriginal issues
www.ahf.ca
NAHO National Aboriginal Health Organization
www.naho.ca/english
Connex Health Services Ontario
health services for substance abuse, mental health, and gambling in Ontario
www.connexontario.ca
Information London
lists health and other social services in London and area
www.info.london.on.ca
Canadian Mental Health Association of London-Middlesex
numerous mental health resources and links
www.london.cmha.ca
Specifically for Youth
Aboriginal Youth Network
www.ayn.ca
Mind Your Mind
www.mindyourmind.ca
ANGER: is an emotion that tells us someone or something has interfered with our goals, gone against us or wronged us in some way. Anger can make us feel like defending ourselves, attacking, or getting revenge.
Kids and adults get angry from time to time. Anger is a normal and important emotion that gives us information about our lives. [Read full Document]
ANXIETY: All of us feel anxious sometimes. We may worry about things that might happen or have a restless night of sleep. But, people with an anxiety problem worry so much that it affects their lives in negative ways.
[Read full Document]
DEPRESSION:
Depression is a disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. When people are depressed their brain works differently than when they don’t have depression. Many of us feel sad for short periods of time. But true clinical depression is a mood disorder in which people feel, think, and act differently than when they are well. Even though people don’t always talk about it, depression is very common and can affect anyone.
[Read full Document]
STRESS:
Are you feeling stressed? You’re not alone.
Signs of Stress:
Nervous and “stressed”?
Upset because something unexpected happened?
Feel like you can’t cope with all you have to do?
Angry because things are out of your control?
Thinking about things you have to get done?
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep?
Trouble concentrating or making decisions?
Major changes to your appetite or eating patterns?
Frequent urges to use the bathroom?
Frequent headaches, upset stomach, or other aches and pains?
Using alcohol or drugs to escape or feel better?
Feeling tired all the time?
[Read full Document]
UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS:
“First Nations people believe that wholeness includes health and wellness of our body, our mind, heart, and spirit” (Pathways to Healing, 2006)
When a family member suffers from a mental illness, one of the most important things you can do is to take the time to learn about the disorder.
[Read full Document]
For Mental Health Counselling
or to ask any questions about our Program call Mental Health/Crisis Coordinator 519-672-4079 ext 238
For Crisis Appointments
For crisis appointments contact Crisis Counselor 519-672-4079 ext.231
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425-427 William Street.
London, Ontario,
N6B 3E1
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Just a Reminder
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Bring your health card and certificate of Indian status (if applicable) on your first visit. |
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Bring a list of your medications and glucose-recording book with you if you have them. |
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If you have an urgent medical emergency, go to a Hospital Emergency Room and tell them the name of your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner at SOAHAC. |
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The Mental Health/Crisis program is funded by South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)
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