Mental health services at CHEO

What we do

Inpatient services include a unit for children and youth aged 17 and under and offers psychiatric medical services and therapy for children and families. The goal of the psychiatric inpatient unit is to provide family-centered care and crisis stabilization, as well as appropriate linkage to ongoing services that meet the needs of the youth and the family.

Most inpatient stays are either:

• 24 to 48 hours, for those who need short-term support to resolve a crisis; OR
• A few days or more, for those whose mental health difficulties need to be assessed and diagnosed, and treatments recommended.

How to access

Who we see

Our multidisciplinary team will offer services for children and youths who have serious, ongoing mental health concerns, including assessments and interventions for children and youths with acute psychiatric symptoms or those experiencing a severe mental health disorder.

What to expect

When the patient is first admitted to the inpatient unit, the patient and family will meet with a nurse and child and youth counsellor to discuss paperwork, the unit, and go through an initial safety assessment.

During the first 24 hours, the patient and family will also meet with other mental health clinicians to better understand the needs of the admission and to plan for the course of appropriate treatment. The psychiatric inpatient unit is a group environment where participation in treatment is actively encouraged.

Throughout the patients stay, the mental health team in collaboration with the patient and parents/guardians, will start discharge planning and coordinate care with outside providers and agencies.

What we do and who we see

The Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder Program at CHEO provides assessment and treatment for children and youth who have a moderate to severe eating disorder, and their families. The program currently consists of an inpatient unit, a day treatment program and an outpatient program. Our program's primary treatment model is family-based therapy. In addition there is group therapy, individual therapy, and meal supervision.

How to access

What to expect

In-patient program:

The Eating Disorders Program provides in-patient services in a specialized Child and Adolescent Mental Health in-patient unit, staffed by a multidisciplinary team of Pediatricians, Psychiatrists, Nurses, Child and Youth Counselors, and Dieticians.

Out-patient program:

For those clients who are able to manage and function sufficiently well in the community, services offered may include one or more of the following:

• individual therapy
• family therapy
• nutritional counseling
• psycho-education classes for families
• parent support group
• therapeutic groups for adolescents

Day Treatment program:

For those clients who find it difficult to manage their eating disorder symptoms without more intensive support, our Day Treatment Program may be appropriate. Clients participate in a half-day of schooling with specialized care and treatment, which may include group therapy, individual or family therapy. While attending the Day Treatment Program, they are required to eat three meals and two snacks daily. Typical goals for our Day Treatment clients may include weight restoration, symptom interruption, normalized eating and interruption of negative thinking patterns that support the problem.

What we do

Programme d'évitement is a school based partnership between CHEO and the Ottawa French Public School Board. The goal of the programme d'évitement is to support a high-need student population and provide interdisciplinary services to support learning and mental health.

Who we see

Our program supports youth who are experiencing attendance difficulties and are between the ages of 12 and 18 (grade 6 to 12). Students who benefit from this service are often struggling with mental health issues that cannot be met by school resources.

How to access

To access programme d'évitement children must be referred through their school directly to the program's Child and Youth Counsellor.

What to expect

A plan of care is prepared based on the student's strengths and individualized to meet the needs of each youth. We help identify specific strategies that the student and family agree upon to ensure their engagement in the process. Length of stay is typically three to six months.

Where we're located

What we do

Steps to Success is a care and treatment program based in a community school. It combines education and therapy to support children and youth. Our goal is to build on a child or youth's strengths and help them develop strategies and skills.

The program works in partnership with parents or guardians, community schools as well as other professionals who may be involved in the child's care. The classroom staff includes:

• Teachers
• child and youth counselors
• educational assistants

This core team can bring in other professionals to support the child or youth, including:

• psychiatrists
• psychologists
• social workers
• speech-language pathologists
• occupational therapists

Please note that while the academic programs follow the Ministry of Education curriculum, the primary focus of the program is based on behavioral, emotional and social skills development.

Who we see

The program is designed to meet the mental health and educational needs of children aged 4 to 13 who have complex emotional and behavioral problems.

How to access

To access Steps to Success you must be referred through the Coordinated Access team. The Coordinated Access team helps coordinate between educational and therapeutic teams, including CHEO. Your referral will go through the committee who will make a recommendation on which service will meet your needs. School personnel (a guidance counsellor, social worker, etc.) must make a referral to the Coordinated Referral Committee and submit the Day Treatment Referral Form.

What to expect

The Steps to Success program operates using a collaborative problem solving approach. This involves the use of a positive approach to changing behaviors in partnership with the family and the child. The child's community school, caregivers and child will participate in the program and treatment.

The average length of stay in our program is one school year.

Where we're located

2485 Dwight Crescent
Ottawa, ON. K1G 1C7
(613) 737-7600 ext. 3408

What we do

Back on Track is a care and treatment program that works to re-integrating youth back into community schools and community living. The program focuses on education and therapy.

Our program provides youth with the academic coping skills required to re-integrate successfully into the community school. It allows youth to work towards one or two credits in Math and English. They can also work towards a credit in Learning Strategies, if they are interested.

Who we see

The youth must be enrolled in grade 9 to grade 12 and have had a significant history of absence from school. It is important that the youth as well as parents and/or guardians are willing to participate as part of the treatment team.

How to access

To access Back on Track, you must be referred through the Coordinated Access team. The Coordinated Access team helps coordinate between educational and therapeutic teams, including CHEO. Your referral will go through the committee who will make a recommendation on which service will meet your needs. School personnel (a guidance counsellor, social worker, etc.) must make a referral to the Coordinated Referral Committee and submit the Day Treatment Referral Form.

What to expect

Youth are expected to participate in daily programming including life skills group, cognitive behaviour therapy group and outings into the community. If necessary, they will also be expected to participate in individual therapy.

A youth's enrollment in the Back on Track Program typically lasts for one school semester. We will assess this on an individual basis. Parents or guardians are expected to attend Parent Group held every second week and if necessary, family therapy sessions.

Where we're located

140 Main Street, Room S506
Ottawa, ON. K1S 5P4
(613) 230-9333

What we do

Centre ADO du Millénium is a therapeutic and academic program based in the community school école secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde. Centre ADO is for students in the intermediate to high school level. The program works in partnership with the CHEO hospital to build on the child's strengths and develop strategies that will best respond to their individual needs.

Who we see

We support children who have complex emotional and behavioral problems.

While the academic programs follow the Ministry of Education curriculum, our program's focus is on behavioral, emotional and social skills development.

How to access

To access Centre ADO du Millénium youth must be referred through the Coordinated Access referral process. The Coordinated Access team helps coordinate between educational and therapeutic teams, including CHEO. Your referral will go through the committee who will make a recommendation on which service will meet your needs. School personnel (a guidance counsellor, social worker, etc.) must make a referral to the Coordinated Referral Committee and submit the Day Treatment Referral Form.

Where we're located

École secondaire publique Gisèle Lalonde
500, boulevard Millennium
Orléans, ON. K4A 4X3
(613) 833-0497

What we do

The primary goal is to support youth (16-24 years) in successfully transitioning from child and youth mental health services to adult mental health services which will meet their needs. Transition and change can be very stressful! Connecting with new services and care providers can feel overwhelming! Transition services can help you navigate this process and provide education, preparation, planning and tools to make the transition easier.

Who we see

The Transitional Age Youth program is designed to meet the mental health needs of youth aged 16-24 who have complex mental illness and exhibit a need for a high level of service to be successful in the community. However, youth will developmental disabilities may be best assisted by other services.

How to access

Youth providers that are currently involved with a youth can initiate a referral. Service providers can contact Steve Dumouchel at 613-737-7600 extension 3498 to discuss a youth who may benefit from the service. A referral form can also be faxed to Steve Dumouchel at 613-737-2257. Providers are expected to remain involved in the youth's care while the youth is transitioning to adult services.

What to expect

The transition coordinator will meet with you to:

• better understand your situation, strengths and needs
• partner with you to create a personal transitional plan
• provide you with tools to help facilitate successful transition including groups that focus on preparing youth for adult services
• help you connect with appropriate resources

There are a variety of resources that can be explored with youth to best address their current needs. These can include but are not limited to mental health, addiction, housing, case management and employment. Recommendations will be discussed and agreed upon prior to any referrals being made. A visit to see location and connect with service providers may be an option to make you feel more comfortable

What we do

Behavioural Neurosciences and Consultation Liaison (BNCL) team provides mental health consultation, neuropsychological assessments, recommendations and short-term interventions for inpatients and outpatients who have both medical and mental health issues which impact their adjustment, treatment or recovery. BNCL team members have backgrounds in psychiatry, psychology, and nursing.

Who we see

The BNCL team see children and youth up to 18 years of age with both medical and mental health issues that impact their adjustment and medical management. Typical referrals to the BNCL team include difficulty coping with chronic or acute medical conditions, non-compliance to treatment, active or stable medical/surgical disorder associated with CNS dysfunction, pain management and movement disorders. Referrals also include dealing with trauma such as burns or a car accident, intellectual disabilities with associated mental health conditions, feeding and elimination problems, procedural anxiety, medication consultation, diagnosis of psychiatric conditions and medical conditions with psychological factors.

How to access

To be seen by the BNCL Team, we require a referral from CHEO physician following your child. If the child or youth is admitted under one of the medical inpatient teams, the name of the physician who has ongoing involvement with the child should also be clearly indicated. Lastly, the referral should be addressed to Centralized Mental Health Intake and not to a particular discipline or individual. The BNCL team holds regular meetings to triage referrals and discuss cases. Any healthcare professional is welcome to attend these meetings to discuss a case and to determine if the involvement of our team would be beneficial.

What we do

The ‘BRIDGES Project' was developed in direct response to increasing numbers of youth and families accessing mental health crisis services over the past several years who also required intensive treatment services once their immediate crisis situation had been stabilized. Bridges provides a link between hospital and community offering intensive short-term (16 weeks) clinical intervention and skill building for youth and their families presenting with complex mental health needs.

Who we see

Youth aged 13-17 years (up until their 18th birthday) who reside within the Champlain LHIN and are experiencing symptoms of complex mental illness (anxiety, depression, psychosis and/or emotional disregulation), and require enhanced services before transitioning to ongoing community-based mental health services.

How to access

At CHEO, a youth can only be referred to the Bridges program from our Emergency department, through Mental Health Urgent Care or from the Inpatient Mental Health Unit.

What we do

The Division of Child and Youth Protection (CYP) at CHEO provides specialized health assessments, medical opinions, and care for children, youth and families when there is a question of maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect). CYP provides consultation on medical aspects of maltreatment to healthcare providers, child welfare agencies, police, lawyers, and others. Lastly, CYP is responsible for reviewing all cases that CHEO staff and physicians report to a child welfare agency.

Who we see

Our major emphasis is the provision of specialized medical services to children, youth and families where there is a question of abuse or neglect. The program works closely with a liaison worker from the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa, and the Emergency Department Sexual Assault/Abuse Program.

The division's services are based at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), which not only serves Ottawa but also Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, Nunavut, and parts of Northern Ontario.

Consultation details

CYP will provide consultation services for the following:

• A medical assessment regarding possible child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect).
• An opinion on medical aspects of possible child maltreatment (e.g., injuries and their causes, underlying medical conditions).
• A request for general information about medical aspects of child maltreatment.
• To facilitate a partnership with CYP for the purpose of case management, research, education, or advocacy.

How to access

We are available for consultation 24 hours per day 7 days per week.

For any urgent (same day) matters, page the CYP physician on-call (24/7) or the CYP Social Worker (daytime hours).

For non-urgent referrals or requests, call CYP at 613-737-7600 x 2677 or fax a referral letter directly to CYP at 613-738-4834.

Important note

We are NOT the same as The Children's Aid Society or Child Welfare. We do not do forensic interviewing, investigation of risk to a child, or make recommendations for the child's living arrangements. The Children's Aid Societies in Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec, and the Department of Family Services in Nunavut are the legal child welfare authorities in CHEO's catchment area to which suspected abuse and neglect must, by law, be reported. These agencies are responsible (sometimes with police) for the investigation of the reports.

What we do

TMHS is a province wide program that provides one-time consultation for a diagnosis and treatment recommendations, as well as a professional consultations, program consultations and education.

Where we work

CHEO (Eastern Hib, SickKids (Central Hub) and Child-Parent Resource Institute (Western Hub) provides TMHS to designated mental health practitioners performing the role of a mental health service provider and who is affiliated with a publicly funded agency.

Who we see

The program helps children and youth up to 18 years of age who reside in a rural, remote and/or underserved area and who have identified mental health needs.

How to access

The most responsible mental health practitioner must fill out the referral package and forward it to one of the 6 TeleMental Health Coordination Agencies. The referral will be sent to the centralized Intake at SickKids and triaged to one of the three hubs in the province. The consultation occurs via videoconferencing of the Ontario Telehealth Network (OTN).

For more information, view SickKids' TeleMental Health referral forms.