The Alliance Centre

The Alliance Centre offers mental health and substance abuse services to individuals aged 16 years and older, residing within the Municipality of West Nipissing.

Hours of service

Office hours are from 8h30 to 4h30, Monday to Friday. Evening service is available in special circumstances. The weekly Walk-In Clinic is open on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Cost

There are no fees for service. Costs would usually relate to the provision of reports or documentation to a third party with the written permission of the client.

Crisis Intervention Services are available through the West Nipissing General Hospital

Brochures & Downloads

Services include:

Mental Health Counselling
This program offers counselling services which are individually tailored and focus on assisting the person to identify and reduce symptoms of distress, increase his/her ability to manage symptoms of illness, improve daily functioning and reduce the possibility of self-harm. Individuals are generally seen for an active period of less than 6 months for symptom relief or indications of functional improvement. The program strives to assist in the re-establishment of constructive coping skills and to help the person regain a contextually sensitive perspective in response to life’s challenges.

Substance Abuse/Addictions Assessment and Treatment
Substance abuse services include assessment, community treatment, case management and referral to external services such as withdrawal management services and residential treatment. Community treatment includes counselling services for individuals and family members who feel they are affected by someone’s substance use.

Needle Exchange Program
In collaboration with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, the Alliance Centre offers evidence-based harm reduction initiatives through a needle exchange program the residents of the Municipality of West Nipissing.

Intensive Case Management
Case management services are individualized supports offered to persons with severe and persistent mental illness in order to help them achieve the highest level of functioning in the community. Services include advocacy, symptom monitoring and management, improved access to primary care services, education regarding illness, community re-integration, assistance with money management skills, crisis counselling, supportive counselling and support in accessing other community services when appropriate. There are also Nurse Case Managers who are available to work with individuals with serious medical issues who meet the eligibility criteria for the Case Management Program.

Walk-In Clinic
The Walk-In Clinic is a service offered to individuals who would like to seek assistance but may not be ready to engage in formal mental health and or substance abuse services. Walk-In Clinic is available to individuals 16 years of age and older. Walk-ins will meet with a clinician for a single session (approximately one hour) to address a mental health or substance concern. The clinic is open Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Psychiatric Consultation
Visiting psychiatrists provide up to 5 days per month of consultation and follow-up through a shared-care approach with the counsellors at the Alliance Centre. Referrals are first screened in order to ensure that all the necessary documentation of demographics, past history, medication, past hospitalization and treatment are gathered prior to the initial appointment. Referrals are accepted from physicians only. In situations where the person has no family physician, the Alliance Centre counsellors may make a referral to psychiatry.

Crisis Intervention
Crisis intervention services are available 7 days a week from 16h00 to 23h00, by either calling 753-3110 ext. 288 or presenting at the hospital switchboard. Crisis intervention offers telephone or face-to-face contact to persons who seek immediate relief from symptoms of emotional and/or situational distress which affect their ability to cope. Services include assessment and crisis counselling as well as liaison, client advocacy and referral to community agencies when appropriate.

Other services:

Peer support initiatives
Club Rendez-Vous is a peer support initiative sponsored by People for Equal Partnership in Mental Health, a peer support group. The Alliance Centre provides financial support to the Club which constitutes a meeting place for persons with a mental illness and their families to interact socially and enhance their quality of life through mutual support and self-advocacy.

Community education Part of Alliance Centre’s mandate is to educate the public on mental health, addictions and related topics. Information and educational sessions, presentations and seminars are available on request. There may be a fee that is usually limited to cost recovery.

Group therapy
Group therapy sessions are offered throughout the year on the following topics: Significant Others; Anxiety; Relationships; Mood Disorders; Self-Esteem; Anger Management; Pre-Contemplative Group; Grief; and Wellness. Please contact the Alliance Centre for more information.

Advocacy
Staff of the Alliance Centre are involved in personal advocacy on behalf of individual clients by representing their interests and helping them navigate through our societal maze of programs and services. The staff and members of the Alliance Centre Advisory Committee also engage in systemic advocacy by working through established channels to influence change to systems and programs which are prejudicial to persons living with mental illness and/or addictions.