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[Pro ile This Week ferrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, October 12, 1983, page 3 Meet North Shore Community Mental Health Board | The quality of mental services along the North Shore has greatly im- proved since the form- ation of the North Shore Community Mental Health Programme, which has been in full operation since Janu- ary of this year. -A 14 member board was appointed to over- see the programme, with full representa- tion from Nipigon, Red Rock, Geraldton, Mara- thon, Longlac, Manitou- wadge and Terrace Bay. Local representatives from Terrace Bay are Dr. Bram Adey and Al Chisholm. Investigation into such a programme took place due to surveys taken over the past years that demonstrated the absence of a desig- nated mental health re- source in the North Shore communities. Af- ter much hard work from some concerned indi- viduals and agencies, the Board was officially formed and has received a mandate from the Ministry for a minimum of five years, and if proven successful this could possibly be ex- panded. The programme is un- ique in many ways - not only in the delivery of mental health services but also because it has been the first time in history that the Ministry of Health and the Min- istry of Community and Social Services has worked together to pro- vide both funding and services to both adults and children alike. The Board is respon- sible for the imple- mentation and the man- agement of the pro- gramme, including the financial department. The Board has_ hired staff and arranged all clinical equipment and space for the on-call psychiatrist. The psy- chiatrist, Dr. Tim Turn- er of Terrace Bay, has a 'key-role' in this pro- gramme. He is playing a co-ordinating role and currently works out of McCausland Hospital. The Community Health Board has estab- lished clinical services over the past year in six local offices in the dist- rict, including Terrace . Bay, Geraldton, Nipi- gon, Longlac, Manitou- wadge and Marathon; this is where mental health assessment and treatment is offered to both adults and child- ren. The function of the Mental Health worker is to interview clients and relatives, plus to pre-. pare histories and to deal with simple every- day problems. More complex problems are dealt with by the Clini- cal Director, Dr. Thomas Lottman, when he makes his regular stops in those communtities. Clients are referred by physicians, public health nurses, schools and also on a voluntary basis. Outpatient fol- low-ups are also provid- ed for patients who have been discharged from psychiatric institutions. Communities covered under this programme include from Dorion to Mobert and north to the C.N. line. " The programme was designed with many aims and objectives in focus. Two of those in- clude actually work- ing with the patients on a "'one to one" basis with a primary focus set on secondary prevention - acute care - identify- ing and dealing with problems - plus dealing with discharged pa- tients. Another focus is to act as a resource base for the education of the communities involved. This programme is designed to be an active service deliverer and its success rate is more than encouraging to the Board members and all those involved with the formation of the Board. Improvement of mental health is promoted through education, con- sultation and liaison. A crisis intervention ser- vice is also provided. This programme is not intended to replace existing services - but rather to compliment them. On September 16th, the Board of Directors of the programme met in Terrace Bay. John Evans, President of the Board, chose that oppor- tunity to announce that the negotiations with the Ministry of Community and Social Services had been completed and as requested by the Min- istry, the Community Development Program- me would be integrated with the Mental Health Programme on Novem- ber 1, 1983. In*the early part: of 1983, the Ministry 'of Pictured above is the Board of the North Shore Community Mental Health Programme. - Back row (l.-r.) Dr. Tom Lottman from Geraldton, Director of Programming and Administration; Rev. R. Klein, Nipigon - Vice President; Roxie Love of Manitouwadge; ' Marilyn Gouthro of Red Rock; Dr. Bram Adey of Terrace Bay, Programme Chairman: and Gus Champagne of Marathon, Chairman of the Personnel Committee. Front row (l.- r.) Jane E. Greer of Marathon; Bessie Newman, Chairman of Finance; John O. Evans, President; and John Cosgrove, Director of the Thunder Bay District Community " Development Programme. Community and Social Services requested that the Mental Health Pro- gtamme assume the sponsorship of the Com- munity . Development Programme. The Men- tal Health Board ap- pointed a task group to review possible organi- zational models and to propose a detailed plan to the Ministry. It was felt that the best ap- proach to sponsorship was a total integration of the two programmes. Under the new inte- gration, the Mental Health Programme will continue its direct ser- vice role and the Com- munity Development Programme will cont- inue to «develop pro- grammes that are de- signed to prevent the buildup of stress and provide resources to groups and individuals to cope with the stress they do experience. Both programmes are innovative and unique in the province. It is hoped by the Board, that the melding of the two pro- grammes will provide the opportunity to de- velop a 'comprehensive approach to the mental health needs of the dist- rict and the enhance- ment of more cost- effective services. THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY | All Sales Cash, Chargex or Mastercard OCTOBER 13, 14 and 15 L570 OF F Regular Priced Merchandise Michael Moore - President S Hours: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. =