Mental Health & Addiction Services is one of the largest departments in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region spanning inpatient and community-based services, in both urban and rural locations.

The Regina General Hospital is home to two state of the art inpatient mental health units, a 50 bed Adult Inpatient Unit and a 10 bed Adolescent Psychiatry Unit. The adult unit is complemented by a variety of adjunctive therapies and outpatient programs that provide innovative alternatives to inpatient care.

Supporting these units in the community are the Adult Mental Health Clinics and Child and Youth Services offering comprehensive general support services as well as specialized programs. Rural mental health services, centred in Grenfell and Fort Qu’Appelle, provide similar programming as the city clinics, with the exception of the specialized programs. Workers in rural programs are highly mobile, extending their services to more isolated areas of the Region.

Addiction Services has seen significant growth in its programming in recent years. In addition to both individual and group programming for substance abusing or addicted individuals and their family members, in both rural and urban areas, the development of two innovative programs, the Secure Youth Detox Centre and the Drug Treatment Court, was achieved. This occurred with a high degree of intersectoral cooperation, which was critical to their success.

All of our services benefit from the expertise of the Department of Psychiatry, which includes both pediatric and adult psychiatrists either in private practice or on contract.

Finally, a focus on prevention and health promotion is provided though the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to reduce substance use and abuse, as well as enhance the mental well being of the Region’s population.

Both urban and rural mental health clinics offer a wide range of community-based services for people, age 18 and up, who are having significant mental health problems. You may be referred for services by your family physician or by self-referral by phone. Referrals are assessed through the Intake Program in Regina, and by individual counselors in the rural areas.

Individualized programs for people with variety of mental health problems are provided. Case management and rehabilitation programming that includes financial, housing and vocational support, is available for individuals with a long-term, serious mental illness. Individual counselling is available for people experiencing severe difficulty coping, day to day, and who show significant deterioration in their level of functioning and mental health.

Some additional programs are available in Regina, only. The Alternatives to Violence program provides assessment and group programming for individuals who have been physically, verbally or psychologically abusive to their partners. The Alternatives to Sexual Offending program provides assessment and programming for men who have committed a sexual offense or who have concerns about their sexual behaviour being inappropriate. The Crisis Response Team (CRT) is an outreach program designed to respond to mental health crises in the Regina community (766-7800). Finally, the new Mental Health Transition Care Team provides an intensive level of follow-up for a 2 week period post discharge from the Adult Inpatient Unit for certain individuals (psychiatrist referral).

In-hospital services for adults include the Adult Inpatient Unit, the Adult Day Hospital Program and Adult Outpatient Programs. These services are located at the south end of the General Hospital in a new facility specially designed for the delivery of inpatient mental health care. The entire unit features plenty of natural light on both levels and a walk-out on the lower level to an enclosed courtyard for outdoor activities. The 50 beds are divided into two-25 bed units, 1-D East and 1-D West.

Most patients are admitted voluntarily to the Inpatient Unit. A wide range of mental disorders are treated on the unit including depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and many more. The adjunctive therapies, recreation, relaxation, activity and group therapies, are all a part of the individualized care plan developed with the patient’s participation to foster a solution-focused approach to care.

The Day Hospital Program is provides both group and individual therapy for individuals discharged from hospital (step down) or to avoid inpatient admission, altogether. Patients attending the Day Program participate in the adjunctive therapies mentioned above. Outpatient ECT and a Clozaril Clinic are also provided on Unit 0-D.

The Adult Inpatient Unit can be locked, when necessary, to prevent very high risk patients from leaving the hospital. More often, however, the unit is not locked.

Child and Youth Services provides community-based mental health services to children (pre-school to 11), youth (age 12-18) and their families. Services include assessment, treatment and case management for a wide range of emotional, developmental and behaviour disorders, including severely disturbed youth. Some services are aimed at detecting problems early and providing treatment and ongoing support to prevent future problems. Individual, family and group counselling are available. Young Offender Programs and a Cognitive Disability Program are accessed at the Regina clinic, but delivered throughout southern Saskatchewan.

The Randall Kinship Center programs meet the needs of families with children and youth who have serious disruptive behaviour problems. Families, as a whole, are provided treatment and support, which are usually long-term and quite intense. Services are provided in a way that honors First Nations and Metis cultures, values and beliefs.

Mental health and addictions staff provide support and training for Kids First Regina programs, including the home visitors. Kids First is a unique program that provides support to vulnerable expectant and new mothers in Regina.

Adolescents (age 11 to 18) who require intense in-hospital care may be admitted to the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (APU), located on unit 4-B at the Regina General Hospital. Admission is usually arranged by a Child Psychiatrists, but Adult Psychiatrists can also admit, when necessary.

Care on the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit is a combination of one-to-one and group counseling, plus schooling and recreation activities. Generally, the school program is provided in the morning for those youth well enough to participate. The afternoons and evenings include group counseling sessions, as well as arts, crafts and other skillbuilding activities. Recreational activities include baking, games and movie nights. Relaxation therapy is provided just before bedtime.

Parents or guardians are included in the care program while their young person is on the unit. Privileges, including visitors, street clothing and passes are earned as the youth makes progress in the treatment program. Decisions about privileges are made by the treatment team.

Ensuring the safety of all the youth on the unit while they are getting well is a main concern. Security cameras are located throughout the unit to assist staff in keeping everyone safe, at all times.

The Adolescent Psychiatry Unit can be locked, when necessary, to prevent very high risk patients from leaving the hospital. More often, however, the unit is not locked.

Addiction Services is available to youth, adults and families who recognize that alcohol or drug use is having a negative effect on their lives, whether through substance abuse or dependence. Programs take an harm reduction approach to services, meaning that workers are committed to starting where clients are at and working with them towards their individual goals. General programs in the rural area are similar to those in Regina, with the exception on the specialized programs.

In addition to support, education and counselling for individuals, family members may also receive education and support, regardless of whether the substance abusing person is engaged in service, or not. Day patient as well as ongoing out-patient support programs are available. Programs specifically designed to engage youth are located in high schools and other community agencies.

Specialized programs include a 7-10 day residential detox program, a 28 day residential treatment program and a methadone harm reduction clinic. SGI impaired driver screening services are also provided.

Other programs provide treatment for individuals with pathological gambling problems, or provide education and support to their families, friends and the community.

The Secure Youth Detox Centre (SYD) was developed in response to new legislation that allows for the involuntary detox and stabilization of drug abusing or drug dependent youth, age 12 to 17 years old. Involuntary services such as this are considered a last resort for youth who are unable or unwilling to engage voluntarily in services for their substance abuse problems.

The Drug Treatment Court (DTC) is a therapeutic court that addresses drug addiction as an underlying cause of criminal activity. Participation in the DTC is open to any adult accused of a non-violent crime that is likely motivated or caused by addictive behaviour. This voluntary treatment program generally lasts for one year. People who do not comply with the program are sent back to court for sentencing.

Adult and pediatric psychiatrists provide in-hospital and community-based services on an emergency or ongoing basis. While some psychiatrists work from their own private practices in the community, most are situated at the Mental Health Clinic or Child & Youth Services. All psychiatry services are insured Saskatchewan Health benefits.

After-hours emergency services by a psychiatrist can be accessed through the Emergency Departments at the Regina General and Pasqua Hospitals. Psychiatrists manage patients on the Adult Mental Health Unit and the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, as well as carry clients in community-based outpatient practices. Rural clinics are provided twice a month. Consultations to our long-term facilities and the correctional centre are also provided by Adult Mental Health Clinic psychiatrists.

Services provided in the rural areas are similar to those provided by the Adult Mental Health Clinic, Child & Youth and Addiction Services in Regina, with the exception of specific programs that are available in Regina, only. Services tend to be more one-to-one with clients, rather than through group work or day programs. Workers travel extensively throughout the rural area of the health region to provide satellite clinics and services in more remote areas, including rural schools.

When calling one of the rural clinics, it is important to understand that the workers are frequently on the road, however calls will be returned as promptly as possible. The Crisis Response Unit in Regina can be contacted in an emergency (766-7800). Alternately, you can access a local health centre or community hospital. HealthLine can also be called for advice and referral (1-877-800-0002), including specialized addictions counselling, if needed.

Enabling people to create and maintain good mental health is done in a variety of ways. Programming involves working with other community partners to improve certain conditions in our community and in people’s lives in order to enhance mental wellness for all. Some of these health determining conditions include income, education, literacy and social supports. Strategies include public education, community development and developing healthy public policy.

In this health region, we are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive population health promotion strategy that is aimed at preventing substance use and abuse, and enhancing the well being of our population. To this end, we are supporting the enhancement the 40 developmental assets in our children, youth, families and communities. This youth focused process engages many sectors and individuals to build capacity and resiliency in our children and youth, strengthen our community’s support for them and their families, and build relationships at all levels.

Public education and awareness are aimed at improving understanding and access to Mental Health & Addictions programs; improving knowledge about mental illness and addiction; improving coping skills; and addressing the stigma many people with mental illness or substance abuse experience on a daily basis.

The ASAP Program is a comprehensive community-based suicide prevention, intervention and postvention program that extends beyond an urban child and youth mandate to include adult and rural populations. ASAP supports actions designed to reduce the incidence of suicidal behaviours with strategies that include community awareness and education; professional training; consultation; coordinated community response; and certified suicide intervention workshops; and research and resource materials.