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Mental Health

Welcome to Mental Health

The Mental Health Program at Southlake provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our program is made up from an experienced team of healthcare professionals consisting of: nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, child and youth counselors, recreational and occupational therapists, dietitians, psychometrists, teachers and crisis workers. All are here to help you and your family identify the mental illness and ensure you get the care you need.

The major focus of the program is to assist individuals through severe episodes of illness and gradually move them into less acute services. To support the road to recovery from the moment a patient is admitted, our Emergent Mental Health Assessment Centre opened in October 2020. It allows individuals experiencing an urgent mental health crisis to find immediate care in a safe, private environment without the need to visit our Emergency Department.

Adult Mental Health services include:

  • Adult Crisis Program
  • Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)
  • Brief Therapy Clinic
  • Community Treatment Order (CTO)
  • Inpatient Mental Health Unit
  • Psychogeriatric Assertive Community Treatment Plan (PACTT)
  • Schizophrenia Program

Child & Adolescent Mental Health services include:

  • Child and Family Clinic
  • Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program
  • Day Hospital Program
  • Eating Disorder Program
  • Urgent Clinic

You will find more information about these programs, services and clinics below, as well as after-care and resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

To begin the referral process, your family physician completes a referral form and sends it to our program by fax at 905-830-5979. Referral forms are also available from the Eating Disorder Program intake worker (905-895-4521, ext. 2825). Once we have received your referral, you will be contacted for a telephone intake interview. If this telephone consultation indicates that you may meet the criteria for our Eating Disorder Program you will be offered a date and time for an assessment. Participation in the program is voluntary.

Eating disorders are the definitions of food and weight issues that adults, children and adolescents experience. Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are characterized by an intense fear of weight gain and low self-esteem.

What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is most often characterized by extreme weight-loss. Most individuals with anorexia have a distorted body image and may be convinced they are fat even if they are emaciated. These individuals typically have an intense fear of weight gain and may restrict their food intake to the point of starvation.

What is bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by periods of secretive and/or uncontrollable binge eating. This behaviour may be followed by attempts to purge the body of the unwanted food by laxative abuse, self-induced vomiting, use of diet pills, food restriction or excessive exercise.

Our family-oriented treatment team respects each client’s individuality and encourages them to actively participate in their own growth and recovery. Treatment is designed to be collaborative rather than dictated, interactive rather than passive, and personal rather than distant or neutral. 

Our program fosters our clients’ reconnection with their feelings and helps them listen to their bodies. Our staff encourages self-awareness, self-understanding and self-compassion.

Payment for the program is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and a valid Ontario Health Card is required. You will not be required to pay anything to attend the program.

Unfortunately, we do not currently have the resources to treat patients over the age of 25 or those with a diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder. There are other OHIP covered programs that do. We recommend that you contact The National Eating Disorder Information Centre to speak with someone about all of the resources available to you in Ontario. 

You can speak to someone over the telephone if you are looking for help, support, resources, information about eating disorders or referrals to health professionals in your area by calling 416-340-4156.

Anorexia nervosa is most often characterized by extreme weight-loss. Most individuals with anorexia have a distorted body image and may be convinced they are fat even if they are emaciated. These individuals typically have an intense fear of weight gain and may restrict their food intake to the point of starvation.

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by periods of secretive and/or uncontrollable binge eating. This behaviour may be followed by attempts to purge the body of the unwanted food by laxative abuse, self-induced vomiting, use of diet pills, food restriction or excessive exercise.

The Physician Referral Form must be completed by your family physician. This will allow them to provide medical information and complete other tests to help us decide what type of treatment is right for you. If you are meeting with another therapist and you feel they have information relevant to your referral, please let Southlake know during your telephone consultation and we will seek your consent to exchange information with them at the appropriate time.