Support groups for families and friends
CAMH offers free support and education groups for families and friends of people with:
Family Addiction Service – 60 White Squirrel Way
For: anyone concerned about substance use of someone close to them (such as partners, parents, siblings, children, friends)
Providing: confidential, free education, information, support and counseling services including:
• 8-week psychoeducational groups
• Monthly Educational Evenings for the public and community
• Assessment and short term treatment for individuals and families
• Referrals to other service providers in the Toronto area and Ontario
• Couple counseling available for CAMH clients and their partners
• Telephone consultation
• Ongoing volunteer-led family support group
Contact: 416 535-8501, ext.2105
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Problem Gambling Service – Russell Street site
For: family members of those with gambling problems, whether or not the individual who gambles is attending treatment
Providing: confidential services in person and/or by phone. (Family members are registered as clients except in the case of brief phone
consultation):
• Couple and family counseling
• Telephone counseling and consultation
• Counseling specialized to the needs of youth, women, diverse ethnocultural populations and older adults
• Services in four languages, and many others by referral
Contact: 416 535-8501, Laurie Farrant, Intake (ext. 7412)
Or call direct: 416 599-1322, or toll-free in Ontario: 1-888-647-4414
Satellite Offices:
The Scarborough Hospital, 2425 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 301
Pace West, 3170 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Suite 202
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Youth Outreach Service
For: parents concerned about youth high risk behavior. Also serves youth and youth-serving agencies.
Providing: a range of addiction prevention, health promotion programs, and brief interventions for youth, parents, and professionals.
Workshops for youth on tobacco, drug and alcohol prevention/harm reduction. Consulting, substance-use prevention and early
identification and training workshops for youth-serving agencies
Contact: 416 535-8501, Joanne Shenfeld (ext. 6765)
Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY)
For: Youth (aged 13-24) and their caregivers, siblings, extended family members and community elders
Providing: harm reduction treatment, family support, psychoeducation and support groups to treat addictions and concurrent mental health
problems in Black youth, including:
• individual and family interventions conducted either at CAMH or in the community
• psychoeducational and support groups (4 or 16 weeks) conducted either at CAMH or in the community
Contact: 416 535-8501, Lew Golding (ext. 6767)
Better Behaviour Service
For: parents of children (aged 2 to 13) with externalizing and disruptive behaviour.
Providing: support for parents including:
• Psychoeducation groups
• Incredible Year Parenting Program (12 sessions) offered twice a year
Contact: 416 535-8501, CYFP Intake (ext. 4366)
Youth Addiction and Concurrent Disorders Service - Family Addiction Service
For: parents/caregivers of substance-using youth (aged 16 to 24)
Providing: Support for parents including:
• Psychoeducation groups (4-6 sessions)
• 2-hour educational workshops for parents of youth with substance use problems (monthly sessions)
Contact: 416 535-8501, Joanne Shenfeld (ext. 6765), Colleen Kelly (ext. 6758)
Family Assessment Consultation Treatment Service (FACTS)
Providing: Support for affected families with or without their youth with:
• Interdisciplinary consultation
Contact: 416 535-8501, Joanne Shenfeld (ext. 6765), Colleen Kelly (ext. 6758), Youth Intake Line (ext. 1730)
Strengthening Families for the Future
For: Families with children who are 7 - 11 whose parents have mental health or addiction problems
Providing: prevention for children and families at risk
• a 14-week program psycho education that builds skills and knowledge that promote positive family functioning, and resiliency.
The program is free, includes dinner and childcare for children under age 7.
Program Start Date: Spring or Fall 2012
Contact: 416 535-8501 ext 4553 for further information.
Mood & Anxiety Clinic
For families of registered CAMH clients of the Child, Youth and Family Program only
For: children (ages 4 to 17) with depression, anxiety/other mood disorders and their caregivers.
Providing: as part of an individualized treatment plan after assessment, this service involves:
• brief supportive therapy and psychoeducation
• wait time for initial assessment is approximately 6 to 8 months
Contact: 416 535-8501, CYFP Intake (ext. 4366)
Children’s Psychotic Disorders Program
For families of registered CAMH clients of the Child, Youth and Family Program only
For: children with disorder involving psychosis (up to age 13) and their caregivers
Providing: primarily a consultation service, may also provide:
• individual and family therapy, counseling, support and/or other psychoeducation as needed
• Wait time for initial assessment is approximately 2 months
Contact: 416 535-8501, CYFP Intake (ext. 4366)
TAPP-C (The Arson Prevention Program for Children)
For families of registered CAMH clients of the Child, Youth and Family Program only
For: fire-involved youth (ages 2 – 18) and their parents.
Providing: fire-specific Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for youth, training for parents and some joint family sessions.
• Services provided to TAPP-C clients after assessment
• Wait time for initial assessment is 4 – 6 weeks
Contact: 416 535-8501, CYFP Intake (ext. 4366)
General Consultation Service
For families of registered CAMH clients of the Child, Youth and Family Program only
For: youth (aged 2 to 18) with psychiatric disorders and their parents/caregivers
Providing: short-term parent and family psychoeducation
• Services provided to after assessment
• Offered as needed
Contact: 416 535-8501, CYFP Intake (ext. 4366)
Youth Addiction and Concurrent Disorder Service; Family Addiction Service
For families of registered CAMH clients of the Child, Youth and Family Program only
For: youth (aged 16 to 24) and their parents/caregivers, siblings and extended family members
Providing: family counseling and supportive counseling to parents on their own
• Offered as needed to clients of the Youth Addiction Service or their parents
Contact: 416 535-8501, Joanne Shenfeld (ext. 6765)
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Mood and Anxiety Program, Family Support and Education Groups – College Street site
For: families and friends of individuals with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Providing: psychoeducational/support groups:
• 8-week group sessions for above 3 types of disorder, each offered at least once a year
• A follow-up group meeting three months later
• Topics may include signs and symptoms; medications, coping skills; problem solving, etc.
Contact: 416 535-8501,
Marilyn Ruskin [for depression and bipolar disorders] (ext. 6265)
Naomi Mitchell [for depression and bipolar disorders] (ext. 6342)
The Bipolar Education and Support Group for Friends and Family
For: families and friends of an individual diagnosed with bipolar disorder
A closed group, held Monday or Wednesday evenings.
Contact: 416 535-8501, Jane Marson (ext. 2560)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Psychoeducation Support Group – Russell Street site
For: families and friends of individuals with BPD.
Providing:
• 8-week group sessions, which participants can repeat
• topics covered include: making sense of behaviours of people with BPD; using mindfulness strategies to notice/ manage distress;
utilizing validation techniques to enhance communication.
Contact: 416 535-8501, Janice Weston (ext. 4454)
Concurrent Disorders Service Family Initiative – Russell Street site
Contact: 416 535-8501, Caroline O’Grady (ext. 6084)
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Schizophrenia Program Family Support and Education Group
For: family and friends of someone dealing with schizophrenia
Providing:
• 8-week group sessions, where participants can meet others for support and discussion of ways to better help and understand
family members and friends with sever mental illness.
• topics covered include: the nature of schizophrenia; relapse prevention; dealing with a crisis; caring for the caregiver;
medications and treatments, communication strategies, the medical and legal systems; community resources.
Contact: 416 535-8501, Melissa McCormick (ext. 2818)
Melissa Edwards (ext. 2372)
First Episode Psychosis Services, Schizophrenia Program – College Street site
For: families and significant others of clients of CAMH's First (Early) Episode Psychosis division of the Schizophrenia Program.
Providing: time-limited psychoeducational and supportive counseling services on a group and individual basis
• Includes a family psychosis education group and a 'Taking Care of the Caregiver' group
• Crisis intervention and support
• Family therapy, couple and individual counseling on as needed basis
• In-home family support
• Siblings group
• Family mentorship opportunities
• Referrals from across GTA accepted through LEARN (Learning Employment Advocacy Recreation Network)
Contact: 416 535-8501,
Early Psychosis Unit (EPU): Saadia Ahmad (ext. 2515), Julie Zikman Toporoski (ext. 4086)
First Episode Psychosis Clinic (FEPC), Kostas Pethieriotis (ext. 4928)
Home Intervention for Psychosis Team (HIP), Rob Peach (ext. 4228)
Satellite Offices:
Learning Employment Advocacy Recreation Network (LEARN) – 1709 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto
Providing: time-limited group open to the public, which consist of 10 sessions
• additional family services for families of LEARN clients
Contact: 416 535-8501, Sabrina Baker (ext. 7311), LEARN [for GTA referrals] (ext.7300)
FACT at Peel (First Assessment Clinical Team) - 30 Eglinton Ave. W. Suite 801, Mississauga
For: families and significant others of clients of FACT Peel CAMH only
Providing: time-limited psychoeducational and supportive counseling services on a group and individual basis
• 6-week family education group offered quarterly, co-facilitated in partnership with Family Association for Mental Health
Everywhere (FAME)
• individual family education, support and counseling
Contact: 416 535-8501, Michelle Gerech (ext. 7711), Tricia Nikkari (ext. 7722)
Schizophrenia Program, Inpatient Programs – Queen Street site
For: families and significant others of inpatients of CAMH's Schizophrenia Program only
Providing: family services while clients are in hospital.
• Regular family meetings with the care teams to coordinate treatment and discharge planning
• Family Support and Education Groups available, staffing permitting
• Referral to community resources for families
Main contacts for these services are the Allied Health Professionals.
Contact: 416 535-8501, Continuing Care Inpatient Social Workers:
Unit 2-1 Melissa McCormick (ext. 2818)
Unit 2-2 Kate Tschakovsky (ext. 2703)
IRU Unit 1-4 Rebecca Brooke (ext.3789)
IRU Unit 1-5 Ian Garrow (ext. 3793)
Unit 2-4 Marlene Hammer (ext. 2372)
Unit 2-5 Lalia Palacio (ext. 2381)
Unit 2-3 Contact Manager: Arne Nes (ext. 2699)
Schizophrenia Program, Outpatient Programs – Various locations
For: families and significant others of outpatients of CAMH's Schizophrenia Program
Providing: as a part of outpatient care,
• Regular family meetings with the care teams to coordinate treatment throughout care to client
• Support provided to families as needed, in office, over the phone or home visits
• Referral to community resources for families
Contact: 416 535-8501, Continuing Care Outpatient Social Workers:
Archway David Clodman (ext. 7559)
Ventures Melissa Edwards (ext. 2373)
ProAct Miriam George (ext.2794)
Central Link Vida Markic (7661)
InterAct Hesther Tims (ext. 2062)
CARE Sisto Piccolotto (ext. 2680)
Shared Care Stephen Willoughby (ext. 2614)
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An Education Group for Family Members - College Street site
For: family members and friends of person(s) with mental health issues
Providing: 8 sessions, offered three-times annually
• Topics include: caring for the caregiver, stigma, crisis intervention, effective communication strategies, problem solving,
concurrent disorders, and community resources
Contact: 416 535-8501, Ellie Munn (ext. 4549)
Geriatric Program
For: in- and out-patient CAMH clients and their families only
Providing:
• Family/significant other meetings with physician and social worker while client is an in-patient to discuss, with client
consent, treatment planning, goals, and concerns
• General psychoeducation about the client’s illness(es)
• Support counseling
• Connecting with resources
• Discharge planning
Group Psychotherapy (PACE Central, 33 Russell Street)
Peer support group (PACE West, 3170 Lakeshore Blvd West)
For: Caregivers/families of CAMH's Geriatric PACE clients only
Providing: a variety of services for caregivers/families of clients from a multi-disciplinary team perspective, including:
• Psychoeducation
• Counseling
• Education and support to family members
Contact: 416 535-8501, ext. 3448
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Law and Mental Health Program – Queen Street site
For: Friends and relatives of clients in the CAMH Law and Mental Health program only
Providing: information about forensic system and disposition orders, and support and referrals to appropriate resources for partners,
friends and relatives of clients in the program.
The services include:
• Family assessment (i.e., as a component of the client assessment)
• Family education is provided as needed
• Family Information Kit
• Regularly scheduled Family Evenings on Medium Secure and Minimum Secure units
Contact: 416 535-8501,
Medium Secure Suraya Faziluddin (ext. 1173)
Melanie Carrington (ext.1108)
Minimum Secure Linda Pawluch (ext. 2894)
• Family support group (one Saturday morning per month)
Contact: 416 535-8501, Linda Pawluch (ext. 2894)
• Information on outpatient supports and services
Contact: 416 535-8501, Elizabeth Holmes (ext. 2465)
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Dual Diagnosis Program Resource Service – 501 Queen Street West
For: adult individuals living with an intellectual disability and mental health needs and their families.
Providing: outpatient consultation, assessment and time limited treatment service.
System Family Worker offers:
• Family assessment (as a component of the client assessment), consultation and facilitation services to help maintain clients
in community settings
• Family support includes information about accessing other community resources in the mental health and/or developmental
sectors.
Contact: 416 535-8501, Assessment Coordinators (exts. 7809 or 7817)
Satellite Office
Dual Diagnosis Service at Peel – 30 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 801, Mississauga
Contact: 416 535-8501, Assessment Coordinator (ext. 7713)
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For: CAMH and/or non-CAMH clients, families (with client consent)
Providing: a variety of services around housing, income, employment and education. Families are welcome to join assessments and consultations
with their loved one with client consent.
Family members can also access the following services:
• Confidential consultation phone calls through Intake
• Information on CAMH and community resources specific to families’ needs
• Family education and presentations provided to families of clients in various CAMH programs
Contact: 416 535-8501, CSRU Intake (ext. 2068
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Centre for Addiction
