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At St. Joseph’s we are committed to helping individuals with mental illness achieve their personal goals while supporting the patient’s family/support network. Our vision at St. Joseph’s is to earn complete confidence in the care we provide and to make a lasting difference in the quest to live fully.
Mental health care has seen a vast amount of change in our community. In June 2013, St. Joseph’s opened Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care in Elgin County and in November 2014, two of St. Joseph’s health care facilities – Parkwood Hospital and Regional Mental Health Care London – came together in one location under one new name: Parkwood Institute, with the opening of the new Mental Health Care Building.
Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care is a facility for individuals with a mental illness who have come into contact with the law.
The Mental Health Care Building at Parkwood Institute is dedicated to those with severe and persistent mental illness in need of longer-stay specialized mental health care.
“Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his own community.”
The mental health care programs at St. Joseph’s strive to provide a positive, respectful, culturally sensitive environment that understands the unique needs of every individual. Our care providers assist patients in their personal journey beyond the limitations of illness and toward recovery.
The overarching goal of the recovery philosophy of care is grounded in a treatment program which focuses on helping each patient live a full and meaningful life. St. Joseph's works closely with patients and families to identify goals and learn what is important to them on their journey to recovery.
Recovery, in mental health care, is not defined by the absence of the illness (as an individual may always live with mental illness) instead it describes the management of the illness and symptoms. Management involves coping with mental illness and continuing to thrive in the community.
Through intensive work with our care teams, patients are able to develop new skills needed to successfully reintegrate back into the community.
Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care Building
550 Wellington Road
London, Ontario N6C 0A7
Phone: 519 646-6100
Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care
401 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3C6
Phone: 519 646-6100
Adult Ambulatory Services provide assistance to adults who struggle with complex and severe mental health issues as an alternative to inpatient care. This team also offers education and consultation services to health care providers in the region. The services may be considered an alternative to inpatient care. A flexible team of professionals provide a wide range of services depending on the needs of the patients. Supports include adherence strategies/ medication management, functional assessment, psychotherapy, outreach and cognitive behavioural rehabilitation. The team is available to provide consultation services to other St. Joseph’s programs and external agencies.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams provide specialized intensive community-based services to adults living with severe, complex and persistent mental illness between the ages of 18 and 65.
ACT clinicians are specially trained to support clients in regaining a healthy, meaningful and fulfilling place in their community. The team can be made of up of psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, social workers, vocational counsellors, and addictions counsellors. Team members offer comprehensive treatment, support and rehabilitation to enable individuals to fully reintegrate into the community of their choice.
St. Joseph's Health Care London manages seven ACT teams across Southwestern Ontario, covering London-Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford Counties.
Services include but are not limited to:
ACT uses proven therapeutic principles and approaches with the following key goals:
All referrals are processed through our Centralized Access Point.
Experiencing a mental health crisis or urgent situation in London-Middlesex?
Access to St. Joseph’s specialized, inpatient mental health care program is coordinated through referrals from acute mental health facilities within our Southwestern Ontario catchment area, such as London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). Our Coordinated Access Team of highly skilled and experienced mental health professionals manage incoming requests for inpatient care from psychiatrists at our Schedule One facility partners.
A psychiatrist or a member of the mental health team is required to complete the referral form.
For more information contact the Coordinated Access Team:
For adults aged 18 to 64, all referral requests for hospital-based mental health outpatient services at both London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London are made through one Centralized Access Point:
Referral forms:
Connect with your primary care physician/family doctor or nurse practitioner. Your primary care provider will assess you and your situation and with your input, determine the best course of action.
If a referral to hospital-based outpatient service is required, your family physician/nurse practitioner will complete the mental health care referral form and submit it through the Centralized Access Point.
Once a referral from your family doctor is received, you will be contacted by phone for a brief interview which will result in an initial appointment with the most appropriate service. During this appointment, a comprehensive mental health assessment will be completed and treatment goals identified. If it is agreed that our services will be helpful, we will introduce you to your team and arrange follow-up appointments.
For more information, including available outpatient services and eligibility criteria, visit the LHSC Centralized Access Point for Adult Ambulatory Mental Health Services webpage.
Questions about the Centralized Access Point referral process can be directed by e-mail to centralreferralMH@lhsc.on.ca or by telephone: 519 667-6777.
If you need assistance with how to obtain a referral through a physician or are searching for contact information for mental health services and supports in your community, contact ConnexOntario for helpful, supportive information and referral specialists who are available 24 hours a day.
ConnexOntario provides free, confidential and anonymous information for people experiencing problems with mental illness: 1-866-531-2600.
Upon admission to one of Parkwood Institute’s Mental Health Care Programs, your care team may be comprised of the following highly trained and qualified professionals to help meet your needs and achieve your goals. Your care is also supported by our Mental Health Partners.
Behaviour therapists work within an interdisciplinary team using Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to change socially relevant behaviour. Behaviour therapists use a variety of assessment techniques to determine why an individual engages in problem behaviour and investigate factors that may contribute to the behaviour. Positive based strategies are developed to teach relevant skills and decrease maladaptive behaviour. ABA is most widely used with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities but is also effective in treating individuals with mental illness.
Child care workers facilitate positive change in youth by assisting the young person in developing an understanding of how their actions are delaying them from optimizing their natural development toward independence. In this process, child care workers consider the youth’s wishes, their developmental stage and the young person’s life experiences
A DSW supports people in all stages of life who have a developmental disability. DSWs have core values which focus on social justice, empowerment, dignity, self-worth, human relationships and integrity.
The registered dietitians provide individual and group counselling in all aspects of nutrition including diabetes education, healthy eating and weight management. The dietitians have an excellent understanding of the impact of mental health on nutrition. They will work with patients and families to answer nutrition questions and plan nutritional care.
Nurses are an integral part of your health care team. During your stay, you, your family and support system will partner with registered nurses, registered practical nurses, clinical nurse specialists and/or nurse practitioners. A nurse provides skilled support, a safe environment, medication management, proactive interventions and treatments with patients and their families, while advocating for the unique needs, preferences and rights of those entrusted to their care. Nurses join with patients and families to support them in their journey toward recovery and optimal functioning, using best practices.Nurses are an integral part of your health care team. During your stay, you, your family and support system will partner with registered nurses, registered practical nurses, clinical nurse specialists and/or nurse practitioners. A nurse provides skilled support, a safe environment, medication management, proactive interventions and treatments with patients and their families, while advocating for the unique needs, preferences and rights of those entrusted to their care. Nurses join with patients and families to support them in their journey toward recovery and optimal functioning, using best practices.
Occupational therapy is about helping people do activities that are important for them—looking after themselves and their homes, working and being involved in their communities. Occupational therapists support people in doing activities (occupations) so they can be healthy, feel good about themselves and manage daily life.
Pharmacists are medication experts - they are extensively trained in the appropriate use of medications, including herbal supplements, prescription and non-prescription medications. They work with the patient’s care team to regularly review medication orders and provide drug information to ensure safe and effective medication use for each patient.
The role of the physiotherapist is to maximize the independence of a patient’s physical function. The physiotherapist also educates patients and staff in the proper use of mobility equipment and in the performance of exercises in a safe manner. Exercise programs are done in either an individual or in a group setting. Patients are assessed and a treatment plan is implemented with on-going reassessment.
A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in assessing, diagnosing and treating mental disorders. A psychiatrist may use a variety of psychotherapies including facilitating psychiatric rehabilitation to treat patients as well as administering medication.
Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. In a mental health setting, they provide assessments, treatment and rehabilitation. Psychologists also offer consultation to other team members, and contribute in the areas of applied research and education related to mental health issues.
Psychological Associates are practitioners of psychology who deliver similar services as psychologists. Psychological services are sometimes provided by non-regulated practitioners called psychometrists. Psychometrists work under the professional supervision of a psychologist, and are often employed to do testing or to provide structured forms of psychological therapy.
Rehabilitation counsellors provide varied and specialized services. Their primary function is to assist with the development of vocational skills to enable individuals with disabilities to secure gainful employment and coping skills to enable them to function with dignity and independence in their community. Rehabilitation counsellors work collaboratively to evaluate the changing needs of the consumer and community to ensure the required services are being offered.
Sometimes problems with family, relationships, illness/mental illness, or practical issues like finances and housing can cause concern and worry that may affect our physical and mental health and well-being. A social worker can help you with these concerns. Social workers in mental health have specialized skills in counselling, psychotherapy, family work, group work, crisis intervention, community liaison and discharge planning. Often, the social worker is the main contact person for the patient, family or community.
A chaplain provides a number of services including emotional and spiritual support and counselling, crisis intervention, grief and bereavement counselling, weekly meditation sessions, spirituality groups, worship and sacramental ministry. Chaplains work with patients as well as their friends and family to find spiritual care and support within their hospital experience. Spiritual care supports people from any religious or non-religious background. Feel free to ask your care provider to connect you with spiritual care, if you wish.
Participating in leisure activities provides structure to one’s day. Therapeutic recreation professionals assist individuals with exploring, resuming and pursuing leisure interests with an optimal level of independence. Therapeutic recreationists provide a supportive setting in which to practice and apply skills related to leisure interests of choice in both the hospital and community.
Mental Health Partners is now comprised of ten partner hospitals in total:
Together, we provide a continuum of care for people living with mental illness and/or addictions across Ontario – from specialized inpatient acute and rehabilitative care, to outpatient services for people living in the community. In collaboration with system partners, we offer collective support as well as specialized clinical and innovation expertise to Ontario Health, towards building a comprehensive, connected mental health and addictions system of care for Ontarians.
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