A message from the Director, Mental Health and Addiction Programs
The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Programs (DMHAP) is mandated to provide strong leadership on several major issues related to mental health, addiction, and homelessness, while taking into account the users and caregivers within our facilities. These issues require the implementation of cross-cutting, coordinated actions between Directorates and client groups, in addition to those planned within our own continuum of services.
Our primary responsibility is to ensure access, quality, and efficiency of mental health services, with a focus on supporting the recovery of youth and adults; preventing addiction and promoting awareness of related risks; and supporting the reintegration of individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. This responsibility is grounded in a culture of continuous improvement and a high standard of quality.
We work closely with all community partners who have mandates in mental health and addiction or who contribute to them, including integration organizations, employment services, and educational institutions.
Moreover, it is essential to highlight that none of this would be possible without the commitment of our Teams and the collaboration of our medical partners, who dedicate themselves every day to providing you with Care everywhere!
Martin St-Pierre
Director, Mental Health and Addiction Programs
A Message from the Department Head
Mental illness affects all social, cultural and demographic groups, causing profound effects on individuals, families and communities. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, in any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. By age 40, about 50% of the population will have experienced a mental illness.
At CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, the goal of our Mental Health Program is to provide a comprehensive range of services for our users. This ranges from mental health consultations with primary care clinicians to having access to secondary care clinical services and specialized treatment programs. We are also a major center for the training of mental health professionals and leaders in mental health research. In collaboration with our service users and invaluable community partners, we strive to reduce the stigma of mental illness and provide a pathway to recovery for those who are suffering.
Karl Looper
Psychiatrist-in-Chief
Mental Health Awareness
The personal stories told in this video were shared with us by real people who have either directly or indirectly lived through mental illness. Their words, deep and captivating, remind us that mental health problems can affect us at any moment, no matter who we are, where we live, and who we know. But, more importantly, there is hope. Help is available.
Thanks to Andrew, Isabelle, Lynn and Yvon who openly tell us about their inspirational journey on World Mental Health Day at CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, it’s impossible not to feel touched, empowered and encouraged by what they have to say.