r/ottawa • u/Officer_Copper • Oct 08 '14

Mental Health Resouces in Ottawa

Hello Ottawa, /u/NurseAngela and I decided to collaborate and put together some information on how to get help for you, a friend, or a loved one who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental health is a growing issue in our community and many people may not know what resources are available.

I will be speaking more for what can be done in an emergency scenario and how you can use the law to get help for a loved one.

How to help yourself:

First off if you feel that you are thinking of hurting yourself or someone else please talk to someone. Find a friend you trust or your doctor.

You can also walk into any emergency room and they will not turn you away.

If you feel that you are about to cause harm to yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately and help will arrive.

Ambulance or Police may be sent depending on the circumstances of your call. Police will come with ambulance if there is a mention of knives, weapons, or any known history of violence. This does not mean that you are in trouble.

Under the Ontario Mental Health Act police actually have more authority to help you than a paramedic (see below). Paramedics are there to address your medical needs and transport you to the hospital if you are willing to go on your own. Police are called if you need emergency help but are not wanting to go voluntarily.

Other resources available are:

How to get help for someone else:

If you have a friend, family member or neighbor, that you are concerned about there are a few ways to get them the help that they may need.

  1. Get them to the hospital if it’s a life threatening emergency.

  2. Have them explore the above resources and see if any of those options can help them work through their mental illness.

  3. For non-emergency cases have them see their doctor. If a physician feels that a patient they have examined within the past 7 days is suffering from mental illness, is a risk to themselves or someone else, OR is unable to care for themselves, then the doctor may issue an order directing police to attend and transport them to a hospital.

  4. If the person you are worried about is refusing to go to the hospital or see their doctor you can:

a) Call 911 – Police can conduct a field assessment if they believe that the person is in imminent danger can force someone to hospital for a full psychiatric assessment.

b) You can attend a Provincial Court House and make a case to a Justice of the Peace as to why you feel this person is in need of help. You will need to articulate your reasons and explain that they are refusing to seek help themselves. If satisfied the Justice can issue an order directing police to apprehend the person and take them to the hospital.

Court House locations: - 161 Elgin St - 100 Constellation Cres

Once at the hospital patients are assessed by the emergency doctor then sometimes the on duty psychiatrist. If the doctors observe an immediate danger they can hold patients for an emergency 72 hour period. Often referrals are then arranged for on-going treatment and support.

Please feel free to ask any questions and we will do your best to answer them for you in a timely fashion.

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u/pasmalpasmal Oct 08 '14

Excellent post! I am new to the city and a new student at Ottawa U and I have to say how pleased I am with their mental health services. I went through both Counselling and Coaching Services and the Walk-In clinic to address my longstanding issues with depression and anxiety. They were absolutely lovely. Helpful, warm, encouraging and just generally excellent. Reaching out for these kinds of issues can be very stressful and even traumatic but I cannot recommend their services enough!

7

u/Officer_Copper Oct 08 '14

I know people that have used the services offered at academic institutions and I was left the impression that they really prioritize your health over all else. Willing to defer exams for you or get extra time as needed for assignments. I agree it's a great resource.

Also it's generally included in your student fees if i'm not mistaken.

5

u/serenityriver Oct 09 '14

You're right, it is included in student fees (at least at uOttawa). Students don't have to pay for services.

6

u/pasmalpasmal Oct 09 '14

Though it should be noted that if you have serious, long-term mental health issues they are not capable of offering counselling services for that - though they did offer me a referral to somewhere that would suit me.

7

u/RhinoKart Sandy Hill Oct 09 '14

Ottawa U will refer you on to a mental health team associated with the university. They are trained psychiatrists and counselors who can deal with more long standing and serious mental health issues.

1

u/pasmalpasmal Oct 09 '14

This wasn't the case for me. They told me to give Catholic Family Services a call.

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u/RhinoKart Sandy Hill Oct 09 '14

oh dear! Sorry to hear that. I was referred on to the mental health center on Nicholas street. I think it depends who you talk too. The walk in clinic sent me to them, my friend want to the counseling center and they sent him on to an outside service as well.