The inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit opened in February, 2006 and is located on Level 1 of the Health Sciences Centre, behind the Paedatric Unit. The specialized program is a regional resource that services the Districts of Thunder Bay and Kenora/Rainy River and is designed to treat youth, with serious and complex mental health disorders. The program provides stabilization, assessment, and treatment for children and adolescents, ages 10 to 17 years. The average expected stay is 14 days. Families and local community service providers are active partners in the treatment process. The Unit strives to provide a culturally competent program, sensitive to the diverse ethnic population of Northwestern Ontario.

Inpatient services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team consisting of child psychiatrists, nurses, child and youth workers, social worker, psychological associate and an Aboriginal cultural liaison worker.

Referral Process

Referrals are accepted from community agencies and physicians. Admissions are planned, and prioritized through the intake process. Prioritization is on the basis of urgency and severity.

Note: the Unit does not have the capacity to respond in any way to crisis situations or crisis admissions.

Services

Psychiatric evaluation, and clarification of diagnosis Psychological assessments Trauma evaluation Medical/paediatric evaluation Brief individual, group and family treatment Short term behavioural interventions Education for youth, and guardian, about the disorder, it’s treatment and management Social skill training Discharge planning

Visiting Hours

Visitors are welcome by appointment. Visiting hours are 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekends.

For additional information, please contact:

Angela Hill
Coordinator - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
980 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 6V4
Email: hillan@tbh.net