[ Browse by Service Category : Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services : Sub-Topics of Mental Health Support Services (16) ]
Mental Health Information/Education
Programs that provide information through a variety of channels that improves the public's understanding of mental health and mental illness; the nature, etiology, diagnosis and treatment or management of specific mental disorders; and strategies for reducing the incidence of problems where possible. Mental health education programs help people make informed decisions about matters that affect their personal mental health and that of others. They inform the public of the risk factors and signs of mental health problems, encourage people to take advantage of early detection programs, help people modify behaviours that compromise their own mental health and provide support for family members and friends who are coping with mental illness or other mental health issues that have affected a loved one.
[ Sub-Topics | View Programs and Services (8) | Related Topics ]
Peer Mental Health Support Services
Mental health agencies, counselling centres and independent, peer-run organizations that offer, as a component of their programming, the services of peer support providers with "lived experience" who have been trained and certified to work with individuals who have struggles pertaining to mental health or psychological trauma. Peer support specialists work with individuals as they develop and implement a personal recovery plan, which can also serve as a contract for engagement, and function as a complement to traditional clinical care. Tasks may include assisting their peers in articulating their goals for recovery and learning and practicing new skills, helping them monitor their progress, supporting them in their treatment, modeling effective coping techniques and self help strategies based on their own recovery experience, and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services. Peer support services are an evidence-based mental health model of care that is recognized by Canadian Mental Health Association and the Mental Health Commission of Canada as an important component in the delivery of effective treatment.
Therapy Referrals
Programs that link people who are in need of counselling services with private therapists who are qualified in the desired area of specialization.
Transitional Mental Health Services
Programs that provide services that facilitate the return to the community of people who have been hospitalized for treatment of acute or chronic mental or emotional disturbances.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.
