CMHA Durham has refined its system to integrate a full range of mental health services that it offers to individuals and their families. It provides services designed to prevent or reduce serious mental health difficulties and the likelihood of hospital admissions. Its services are not only for those with chronic mental health issues, but also for those experiencing difficulties for the first time. With timely assistance they can avoid more serious problems. CMHA Durham's Resource Centre for Wellness & Learning will provide a place of first contact for all individuals who require support.

The Resource Centre for Wellness & Learning is designed to remove barriers and provide solutions. Within the Centre there is the "FIRST CONTACT PROGRAM". The consumer, family & the general public benefit from access to comprehensive and continuous range of services and supports. Individuals are provided with information regarding mental health issues and services, and are linked when necessary to internal and/or external supports.

CMHA's aim is to make services readily available, client directed, inclusive and user friendly. In order to achieve these objectives, the community based Resource Centre and FIRST CONTACT PROGRAM provides the following functions:

Assessment & Intake

Work with individuals to identify the level of service that will meet their needs

Information & Referral

Provide individuals and their support networks with the information they require for making informed decisions about treatment, support, options, and/or issues important to recovery. Provide referrals to appropriate services, and when necessary, to ensure successful follow through, see that hands-on assistance is provided.

Linkage to Appropriate Level of Service

The ability to link people to the wide variety of services and supports that exist in the generic community, or to other mental health or specialized services according to the level of need.

Intake to Other Components of the System

Initiate intake into other programs within this organization or to other components of the mental health, generic or social service system

Advocacy

To provide access to rights, advise and help persons to access and sustain entitlements and to meet the basic needs