Mental Health Services
 

Yarmouth Mental Health Centre

60 Vancouver Street, Yarmouth, NS  B5A 2P5  

Phone:  902-742-4222

Shelburne Mental Health Centre

2nd Floor, Roseway Hospital

PO Box 610 1606 Lake Road,  Shelburne, NS  B0T 1W0

Phone:  902-875-4200

Digby Mental Health Centre

3rd Floor, Digby General Hospital

PO Box 820, 75 Warwick Street, Digby, NS  B0V 1A0

Phone:  (902) 245-4709

Fax: (902) 245-2145

Hours of Operation:  Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm

How to get  mental health services:

• Call the Centre

• Fill out a self-referral form and return it to the Centre

• Ask your family doctor or another community agency to refer you.

A Doctor’s referral is not required.

After the Referral is Made

Once we receive the referral, a decision will be made about who can best help you and you will be notified as to when you can be seen.

If you need help right away

Contact the Mental Health Centre office or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

If the centre is closed, contact your family doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Who provides services:

Services are provided by Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Physicians, Community Support Workers, and Occupational Therapists.

Services for Adults

 The Adult Service Team provides:

• Services to  persons age 19 and over

• Individual assessment and treatment

• Community support for adults who have chronic mental illness

• Services to Seniors, which includes consultation to nursing homes and educational sessions

• Consultations to and partnerships with health care professionals and community agencies

• Treatment groups and individual conselling for issues such as:

  • Stress

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Anger

• Medication clinics

• Education to the community on mental health matters

Services for Children and Youth

The Child and Youth Team provides:

• Services to children and youth up to the age of 19 years

• Individual assessment and treatment

• Community support for children with mental health and/or emotional problems and their families

• Treatment groups and individual counseling for issues such as:

  • Emotional problems

  • Coping with loss

  • Body image issues

  • Effects of abuse

  • Anxiety and mood swings

• Services for children with autism spectrum disorders, including assessment and treatment using a family-centred approach.

• Education to the community on mental health matters.

Inpatient Services

The Yarmouth Regional Hospital has an acute care Psychiatry Inpatient Unit that serves the District.

Confidentiality

Information about you as a client is kept confidential.  However, there are some limits to this that will be explained to you during your first contact.

Your Opinion

Your opinions and feedback are valuable to us.  If you have any concerns about services, please contact our management at: 742-3542 ext. 158, 548 or 646

Early Response Service

Early response service staff provide service from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (except holidays) along with the Emergency Room physician, family physician or psychiatrists.  Outside of those hours service is provided by the Emergency Room physician and/or family physician with psychiatry consultation available as required.

The roll of staff in this service is to manage all referrals and to provide bridging appointments with clients.   The ERS clinician would book a bridging appointment if needed for the individual until they are assigned to a clinician on a permanent basis.  An outpatient consult with a psychiatrist may also be arranged if deemed necessary.

Each referral is triaged by the early response service nurse.  The nurse determines the level of emergency by talking with the person by telephone or in person.

● Emergency:  The person is suffering from a mental health problem who is at immediate risk of harming self or others and/or a delay in treatment would threaten the person's life or ability.

Emergency cases are dealt with on the same day either by the ERS worker or the emergency department.  In extreme cases a person may be admitted to the psychiatric inpatient unit.

● Urgent: The person is suffering from a mental health problem and requires support soon.

Urgent cases are to have a full mental health assessment within five (5) working days. 

● Routine: The person needs an assessment but is not determined as being an emergency or urgent. A mental health assessment is assigned to a clinician within ten (10) days and must be done within 90 days.

Getting Help: When & How (link to the Cdn Mental Health Assn)

Mental Illness in the Family (link to CMHA)
 

Helpful links:
Canadian Mental Health Association - National Division
Canadian Mental Health Association - NS Division
Self Help Connection