Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Dual Diagnosis Collaborative Consultation Program, based in Peterborough. This program is a collaboration between C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R., Tri-County Community Support Services (T.C.C.S.S.) and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (P.R.H.C.).
Members of our community may be familiar with the Dual Diagnosis Psychiatry Clinic previously based at our Water Street location. This program provided psychiatric assessment for individuals with a Dual Diagnosis. As a program, it had a substantial wait list, up to two years long. This was a significant challenge in ensuring timely access to specialized psychiatric care and treatment.
At the end of 2017 we started examining ways to increase access to the clinic within the limited resources we had available. In collaboration with P.R.H.C. and T.C.C.S.S., we engaged in months of collaborative discussion and brainstorming, trying to find creative and innovative ways we could expand the scope of the program.
As a result, we have developed a new model for a clinic with enhanced resources.
The new Dual Diagnosis Collaborative Consultation Program (D.D.C.C.P.) launched at 415 Water St., Peterborough on July 16. The program includes:
- Expanded Psychiatry: increase from two days per month to eight days per month
- An on-site Psychiatrist from P.R.H.C. who will be based at D.D.C.C.P. four afternoons each week
- A multi-disciplinary team, complete with a patient navigator, behavioural consultant and case management services
“We are hopeful that this new enhanced service will increase access to specialised psychiatry and follow up for individuals with a Dual Diagnosis,” says Tracy Graham, program manager. “In the absence of this program being provided we were looking at the potential of no specialized Dual Diagnosis psychiatry resources within Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. It is through the collaborative efforts of T.C.C.S.S. and P.R.H.C. that we have been able to make this vision a reality.”
For more information, please contact Tracy Graham at 705-748-6711 extension 1043 or email tgraham@cmhahkpr.ca.