Centralized Assessment, Triage and Support Program (CATS)

The General Psychiatry Program is now the Centralized Intake, Assessment, Triage and Support Program (CATS) internally to CAMH.

CATS will take the lead in working collaboratively with the CAMH Clinical Programs throughout 2007 to develop a “front door” Centralized Intake service, to all CAMH mental health and addictions programs. This will improve access for clients, families, referring physicians, staff and other stakeholders we serve.

Once CATS has worked with internal clinical partners to develop a CAMH ‘front door,’ CATS will launch its campaign to profile and promote its services to community partners and other stakeholders. Specifically, CATS will debut with a 1-800 number that clients, family and other interested parties can dial to receive information and guidance about access to the mental health and addiction system. This launch is expected to take place Fall 2007.

Below is the text from the new CATS flyer released internally in January 2007.

In January 2007, CAMH’s General Psychiatry Program (GPP) changed its name to the Centralized Assessment, Triage and Support Program (CATS).

This CATS Program will:

• improve client access to specialized emergency, assessment and short-term support services at CAMH
• establish stronger links to medical practitioners, mental health resources and ethnocultural services in Ontario
• improve service co-ordination, internal and external to CAMH, to ensure clients’ service needs are addressed efficiently
• improve access to mental health services for diverse populations
• provide culturally competent psychiatric consultation and treatment

CATS Mission

CATS will improve the lives of those affected by substance use and mental health issues, by providing clinical and academic leadership and excellence in access to services for clients and their social/community supports. CATS will provide integrated triage, consultation, assessment and stabilization, through partnerships internal and external to CAMH.

CATS Vision

A community where co-ordinated access to comprehensive services is readily available to adults with mental health and substance use issues.

CATS Clinical Services

Outpatient Services

• provide general and crisis assessments on a consultative basis for a diverse population of adults with a variety of mental health and substance use issues
• link clients to the most appropriate mental health and addiction resources, internal and external to CAMH
• provide brief treatment (three-month model) and crisis intervention for clients assessed in the program, when indicated
• provide short-term support and stabilization for clients discharged from the CATS Inpatient Services who await acceptance to internal and/or external specialty programs

Psychological Assessment Service (PAS)

• provides psychological assessment, diagnostic testing, and neuropsychological evaluation and consultation primarily to clients receiving care at the College Street Site Gender Identity Clinic
• provides assessment and treatment to clients who identify problems related to gender identity Emergency Service (ER) and Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU)
• provide 24-hour/7 days per week emergency assessment and treatment for adults with mental health and substance use issues
• provide extended observation, assessment and treatment services to adults assessed in the Emergency Service or those who are awaiting an inpatient bed
• work collaboratively with other hospital emergency and community mental health services to achieve client-centred care

Inpatient Services : General Psychiatry Unit (GPU) and Acute Care Unit (ACU)

• provide individualized, short-term, client-centred assessment and treatment for adults with mental health and substance use issues
• provide an acute inpatient treatment setting for adults who require a high level of assessment, nursing observation and intensive treatment
• provide multidisciplinary discharge planning to ensure the most appropriate and client-centred follow-up is in place

University of Toronto Psychiatric Outreach Program

• co-ordinates clinical service, education and support to multidisciplinary clinicians in rural, remote and under-serviced areas of Ontario CATS Education and Research
• supports and collaborates on research initiatives at CAMH and with other organizations
• offers training opportunities to medical students, family medicine and psychiatry residents; and social work, nursing, occupational therapy and psychology students
• offers training and education for clinicians in working with ethnoracially and culturally diverse clients

Cultural Interpretation Service

• provides CAMH clients with access to trained professional interpreters

How to reach us

For more information, please call:

• Outpatient Services: 416 535-8501 ext. 6355
• University of Toronto Psychiatric Outreach Program: 416 535-8501 ext. 6842
• Emergency Services: 416 535-8501 ext. 6885
• The Centralized Assessment, Triage and Support (CATS) Program
  Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  250 College Street
  Toronto, ON M5T 1R8

For information on addiction and mental health issues or other resources, please contact CAMH’s R. Samuel McLaughlin Information Centre:

Ontario toll-free: 1 800 463-6273
Toronto: 416 595-6111

To make a donation, please contact the CAMH Foundation:
Tel.: 416 979-6909
E-mail: foundation@camh.net

If you have questions, compliments or concerns about services at CAMH, please call our Client Relations Co-ordinator at:
Tel.: 416 535-8501 ext. 2028.

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