Mental Health and Addictions Counselling

Recognizing that it takes courage and determination to seek help, you will be treated in a respectful manner by a skilled team of professional counsellors.

These services are offered on a voluntary basis.

All services offered: 

Our services are based on mental health and addictions best practices and include:

• Mental Health & Addictions Counselling
• Crisis Counselling via Emergency Department
• Visiting Consulting Psychiatrist Clinic
• Problem Gambling Counselling
• Needle Exchange Program
• Treatment Referral
• Case Management
• Forensic Case Management
• Assault Care and Treatment Counselling

Our staff respects a client’s right to privacy and confidentiality.  A staff member will reveal information only when authorized by the client and/or when legally required to do so.  There are three main exceptions to confidentiality:

• When a client threatens harm to self or others.
• When the client is involved in maltreatment or neglect of a child under 16.
• When a case file or counsellor is subpoenaed.

Prior to disclosure, the counsellor will have the client provide written or verbal consent.  A client may withdraw consent at any time.

• 16 years of age or older and their families for  mental health
• Youths 12-years of age or older for addictions services
• 18 years of age or older for OWS services
• All ages for psychiatric consultations
• All ages for ACT counseling
• All ages for crisis services

We encourage participation of partners and family members in the counselling process.

Counselling is a working relationship based on mutual respect.  We ask that clients be polite to staff and come to sessions prepared to work on their issues.

We ask you to arrive clean and sober for counselling sessions.

If you are unable to come to a scheduled appointment, please phone us to let us know, preferably 24 hours in advance.

In order to ensure that our patients have received the best possible service, we encourage you to provide feedback by completing a client experience survey. A paper copy can be obtained from any MHAP staff member.

If you wish to talk confidentially with someone at Mental Health & Addiction services about your experiences, we encourage you to contact us at (807) 737-1275 or  Toll Free at 1 (877) 737-1275.

MHAP’s crisis service is available to all client’s currently in Sioux Lookout. The goal of this program is to return client’s to a pre-crisis state, and develop coping skills for the future, to manage the issues that may develop.  Any other counseling needs, will be referred to an appropriate long-term community program.

This service offers quick response to all situations that may constitute a ‘crisis’ for an individual.

This Includes:

• Suicidal ideation/attempt
• Self-harm
• Acute psychosis
• Inability to cope with current life stressors
• We encourage participation of partners and family members in the counselling process.

Recognizing that it takes courage and determination to seek help, you will be treated in a respectful manner by a skilled team of professional counsellors.

These services are offered on a voluntary basis.

You will be assigned to a counsellor. Should you feel, for whatever reason, that the counselor you have been assigned is not a good fit, please do not hesitate to let us know.  The therapeutic relationship is important to the success of counseling, and we will willingly assign you to another counsellor.

Who Can Access This Service

Our services are available to anyone in the Sioux Lookout zone, which includes Lac Seul First Nation, Hudson, Pickle Lake, Saugeen First Nation, Slate Falls First Nation, and Mishkeegogamang First Nation.

The age ranges are:

• 16 years of age or older and their families for  mental health
• Youths 12-years of age or older for addictions services.
• We encourage participation of partners and family members in the counselling process.

Some of the issues that can be addressed are:

• Depression
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks
• Referral/ connection to Psychiatric Support
• Addictions  and Treatment Planning
• Grief and Loss
• Relationships and Couples Counselling*
• Coping with Life Stressors (school, work, etc.)
• Symptoms of Serious Mental Illness
• Case Management
• Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation**
• Trauma
• Court Mandated

*Couples counseling is only undertaken after a counselor works individually with both parties

** Crisis Referrals received for local clients will be triaged and ideally connected with a long-term counselor based on need and availability to decrease the client’s need to retell their story