There are services available for your loved one to help them adjust to returning to the community. This should begin as soon as possible to avoid relapse and to build skills to enable the person to cope with having a mental illness. Here is a description of the most commonly used resources available for persons with mental illness living in the West Island area. Remember that each organization offers different services. What works for one person may not be appropriate for another person's need.

The Lakeshore General Hospital Outpatient Clinic
During the person's hospital stay, the psychiatrist or another psychiatric specialist will most probably refer the person to the hospital's Outpatient Department (OPD) for follow up. Here they will receive medication and health consultation and treatment. There are a variety of services associated with the OPD. Contact them at (514) 630-2010 for further information.

Pact Team
Headed by a psychiatrist from the Lakeshore hospital, the PACT Team is a mobile community-based treatment team for persons with severe and persistent mental health problems. It is a multidisciplinary agency which functions interchangeably to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support for persons to live successfully within the community.

Community Perspective in Mental Health
Community Perspective offers adults with mental illness individual support and follow-up; help finding appropriate, low cost housing; and assists the person with basic life skills such as budgeting and human rights education. A community worker, through home visits, helps to enhance the quality of life by maximizing coping skills and by developing a support network.
16115 Gouin Blvd #300, Ste. Genevieve, (514) 696-0972
http://www.pcsm-cpmh.org/

West Island Citizen Advocacy
Citizen Advocacy provides advocacy and support to adults with mental illness and other persons in need of their services. Volunteers, supervised and trained by social service professionals, are there to provide emotional and practical support (such as banking, shopping and activities) to persons living independently in the community. They also provide individual and collective defense of rights assistance. Their Church Apartment Program offers permanent semi-supervised homes for adults with mental illness.
68 Prince-Edward, Pointe-Claire, (514) 694-5850
http://www.westislandcitizenadvocacy.com/

West Island Crisis Centre
The West Island Crisis Centre is a 24 hour 7 days/week service for persons with mental health or psychosocial problems in crisis. Its main objective is to encourage autonomy by helping the individual in developing the necessary skills for their integration into the community. It can be very helpful in avoiding hospitalization. The Centre can also provide a place of transition between the hospital and the community. The Crisis Centre offers a 24-hour crisis telephone line, short-term housing (up to two weeks), individual counseling, short term follow-up, and a mobile crisis intervention team. All services are arranged by telephone and are subject to an evaluation.
(514) 684- 6160

Ensemble
Ensemble is a treatment centre for adults with mental illness. Each client is offered individualized programs aimed at preventing hospitalization and improving quality of life by using a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach. Ensemble offers programs such as clinical intervention; individual, group, and family therapy; art therapy; social re-adaptation programs and community outreach. Ensemble works closely with the Lakeshore Outpatient Department. A referral from a mental health professional is needed.
2840 Saint-Charles Blvd, Suite 202, Kirkland, (514) 697-1230

Omega Day Centre
Omega is a unique and unstructured day centre for adults with mental illness. Participants benefit from an informal, warm environment and are offered a place to socialize, work programs, daily lunches, outings, and an array of leisure groups such as creative arts, swimming in the summer, and cooking classes. You can contact them personally or be referred.
600 Ave de L'Eglise, Dorval, (514) 631-2760

Centre Bienvenue
Centre Bienvenue is a day centre for adults with mental illness that offers programs such as human relations, life skills, health skills, and recreational activities. It promotes improved lifestyles, provides mutual support programs and offers services in social re-adaptation. This centre offers a caring and supportive environment for all of its members experiencing mental health difficulties. You can contact them personally or be referred. 12694 Gouin Blvd, Pierrefonds, (514) 421-9312
http://www.centrebienvenue.org/

Omega Group Home
Omega group home offers a 24-hour supervised environment aimed at increasing independent living skills for adults with mental illness. Each person has an individual follow-up plan through a worker at the home. The group home has nine places with a maximum stay of two years for both men and women.
Tel: (514) 683-1647

West Island Citizen Advocacy
Citizen Advocacy has permanent semi-supervised apartments throughout the West Island (Church Apartment Program) but places are limited. Volunteers and mental health professionals offer their clients services in budgeting, accompaniment, follow-up and other on-the-spot support.
68 Prince-Edward, Pointe Claire, (514) 694-5850

L'Equipe Entreprise
L'Equipe Entreprise is an employment program for adults who have a mental illness. It provides part time work in areas of catering & cooking.  Persons are able to retain the safety net of social assistance while receiving an additional amount for their work involvement. L'Equipe Entreprise is a great place to begin gaining the skills needed to re-integrate into the work force, and the food is excellent as well!
750 Dawson Ave, Dorval, (514) 636-1081

Omega Day Centre
Omega offers opportunities for some people to work at the centre. Jobs include maintenance, secretarial work and kitchen aid. These positions are part of a government-sponsored employment-reinsertion program.
600 Ave de L'Eglise, Dorval, (514) 631-2760

Placement Potentiel
Placement Potentiel is an adaptive work centre that provides employment services for persons with disabilities.
111 Donegani Ave, (514) 694-0315
http://www.placementpotentiel.com/

L'Arrimage
L'Arrimage has specialized employment programs for persons with mental illness who wish to reintegrate into the work force. Their services include evaluation and counseling, training and preparation for employment, job search, work placement, and follow up.
(514) 389-9393

It is important to note that the downtown area also offers a number of interesting employment opportunities for persons with mental illness. Information on these can be attained through contacting the Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montreal at (514) 527-1375.

The West Island Mental Health Resources Guide PDF