Powell River Mental Health and Addiction Services – Out-Patient Services

Adults (19 years and older) can refer themselves, or be referred by a physician.

1. Adult Community Support Services (ACSS): program is for adults with a diagnosis of a serious and persistent mental disorder such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, chronic and severe depression that require ongoing support. Services include community mental health nurse, case management, medication management, community outreach support, vocational rehabilitation, supported independent living, residential support and psychiatric consultation services. Contracted services within this program include:

Source Club Vocational Program: is a house on Cumberland Street that provides clients with a meeting place to do work experience and supported work placements. Operates the canteen at Malaspina University-College, salvaging and thrift store and a market garden.

Social Recreational Program: funded by the Integrated Primary Care Community Care Network offers a weekly social and recreational program for clients who are isolated and in need of social and recreational supports.

Outreach Support Worker: Outreach worker provides 24 hours of direct outreach per week for clients unable to manage in community without support. Includes shopping, laundry, food preparation, bill paying, banking, etc.

2. Short Term Assessment and Treatment Team: individual counselling or group therapy for adults is available to persons with serious acute mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and adjustment problems. The goal is not to cure the disorder or restructure the personality, but to reduce the client’s symptoms, improve the ability to cope and increase access to available resources. Appointments are generally one hour in length once a week for six to ten sessions. Groups offered are Weekly Wellness, Changeways and Anxiety Group.

GROUPS: all participants must have an intake assessment. Referrals to the groups may be directly from the intake assessment or clients may request entry into any group through their physician, nurse or therapist.

Weekly Wellness: two weekly open groups for people who have the need for ongoing support and connection with others. The focus of the group is on maintaining wellness and adapting to life’s stresses. People may choose to attend one or both.

Changeways: is an 6-week educational program designed for those who have been experiencing depression, anxiety or facing distressing situations. Changeways teaches participant’s skills with the aim of people managing their future difficulties themselves. Emphasis is placed on the development of personal goals and on the methods of meeting these goals.

Anxiety Group: is an 6-week educational program designed for those who have experienced moderate to severe anxiety to learn skills of stress reduction, relaxation, and problem-solving and healthy mental health practices.