Plan of Action In Mental Health for 2005-2010
Where are we at?

Why does the Ministry want to implement a Plan of Action In Mental Health for 2005-2010?
The objective pursued by this Plan of Action is to give the Province of Quebec a good Mental Health System that recognizes the role of the users of services, gives access to treatment services and supports children, youths and adults of all ages having a mental health problem.  This system will be implemented in each of the 12 HSSCs of the Island of Montreal.  For the West Island, this means that we will have more services.

There are three main steps in implementing a Plan of Action for Mental Health.  We are currently in the first phase which is not completed.  This first phase should allow us to put in place first-line services.  For the West Island, there will be additional resources.  We will form teams that will take care of children and youths.  We will improve our services at CLSC Lac-Saint-Louis and CLSC Pierrefonds sites.

What do we mean by first line, second line and third line services?
It is a way to classify services.
The first line services are the services closest to the community; these services are usually available close to your home.  A complete team will receive, evaluate and direct the client towards the proper service, based on the needs.

The first line services also represent services offered by  community organizations, General Practitioners and the Crisis Centre.  The majority of clients require solely this type of service and nothing else.  There will be a psychiatrist working closely with the first-line teams at the CLSCs, without being necessarily directly involved with the clients.

The second line team will consist of psychiatrists and specialized services.

When the client will need a psychiatric evaluation he/she will be directed to the second line and will be able to receive various services, such as:  Services from the PACT team, the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic or from the Hospital.  The second line and the first line teams will work together.  If the first line team can give the necessary care, the psychiatrist will remain in contact with the first line and if the first line team needs a psychiatrist, the latter will be available.

The third line will support the second line if the condition of the person is rare and complex, this will allow the person to receive the care he/she requires.

Whether it is the first line, the second line or the third line, the care will be given according to the needs of the person.

 What will this change for my mentally ill loved one?  Will he/she continue to see the same psychiatrist?
It all depends.  If the client needs to see a psychiatrist, the client will continue to see him and the psychiatrist will work with the team.  However, the psychiatrist doesn’t always have to see the client.  The team who works with the psychiatrist is always in close contact with the psychiatrist and informs him when the client needs to be seen by him.

Where should I go if a loved one develops a mental illness?
For the time being, nothing will change.  You should continue the way you did in the past and we will advise the population when changes occur. You can contact the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic at 514-630-2010.  We are currently working to ensure that the new clients present themselves to the Guichet d’accès.  It is not done yet and we will not transfer the clients from the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic right away.  First of all, we must ensure that the Guichet will be up and running and we have good communications between ourselves.  Not everyone will be transferred.  Certain clients will have to stay in the second line due to their fragility; the others will be transferred to the first line only when we feel reassured that they are ready.  We will proceed slowly and explain the process before taking any action.  Presently, several clients are seen only once or twice a year by the psychiatrist.

What is a Guichet d’accès?
A Guichet d’accès is a way to create one entry way for all Mental Health services in the West Island.  This entry should allow us to give services more rapidly and avoid repetition of the client’s history.

We hear about bed closures in certain hospitals.  Will it be the same at the Lakeshore General Hospital?
No, the Lakeshore General Hospital will not close any beds.

Will the families be adequately supported in their role with their relatives?
We believe so, since we are going to have additional staff and that we will work together to respond to the needs.

Francine Giroux, B.Sc., M.Sc.
Directrice Réseau – Santé mentale, Déficience intellectuelle
Troubles envahissants du développement et Dépendances