Mental health problems relate to our behaviour, emotions and relationships.

Serious mental health problems in childhood can include depression, unmanageable behaviour, and an inability to get along with others.

These problems can cause much stress and heartache to children, their families, their teachers, and the community. In addition, they often lead to even more serious mental health problems in adulthood.

A wide range of programs and services staffed by well-trained professionals who are connected to other local and provincial services is available to support your child and your family.

Counseling Services (top)
Through spending time with the youth and their family, counselors can provide an assessment based on observations, and recommend a particular type of treatment or a treatment plan.

School-Based Mental Health Services (top)

There are 3 levels of School Mental Health involvement:

1. Classroom

School Mental Health facilitators from Hands meet with teachers to collaborate and develop a plan that will assist the youth to be successful at school.

2. Group

School Mental Health facilitators from Hands form groups where youth are taught new skills and strategies to promote success at school. The new skills are practiced within the group setting and students are encouraged to use their newly developed skills in their day-to-day life.

3. Individual

Both Classroom and Group involvement processes are used along with one-on-one support with the youth to problem solve, teach new skills, coach, and provide counseling support within the school setting.

Home-Based Mental Health Services (top)

RESIDENTIAL Treatment (top)

Our Hands residential facility is located in North Bay, and serves youth living in the districts of Nipissing, Parry Sound and Muskoka. Treatment and support is administered by Hands facilitators who work in shifts at the treatment setting. The in-depth relationships that are built between the Hands facilitators and youth at the residence allow for accurate analysis and assessment of the individual’s specific needs and that information is used to tailor a treatment plan specific to the resident’s individual needs. The Hands facilitators working with youth at the treatment home, have unique opportunities to help the residents connect their feelings and actions, and to develop that self knowledge to applying strategies for personal growth and development.

Crisis (top)

At Hands, we recognize that a crisis is viewed and experienced in different ways by different people. What contributes to or brings on a crisis for one individual may not be experienced the same way by another. By its nature, crisis is characteristically time-limited.

We provide crisis assessment, de-escalation, stabilization and time-limited intervention to children/youth and their families. This may include, but isn’t limited to:

Peer Mediation/ Restorative Practices (top)

Peer Mediation/Restorative Practices service is available within the school setting for students who been involved with or affected by a specific school incident. This program is facilitated by the Peer Mediation/Restorative Practices facilitator from Hands, or by a fellow student who has been trained. The program is a voluntary process where every person involved has an equal voice.

Students who commit or participate in an offending behaviour at or against the school community are brought together with those who were directly affected by the offence in a meeting is that facilitated by a neutral party. The purpose for this integration is to repair the harm that was done by the offending behaviour. Parents, teachers and other school staff are welcome to participate in the meeting as appropriate. The incident is used as a learning tool that supports learning about social and conflict resolution skills while reducing the number of punitive consequences, such as a suspension or expulsion.

Parry Sound Youth Justice Committee (top)

The Parry Sound Youth Justice Committee provides accountability, meaningful resolution and reparation between youth in conflict with the law, their victims and their community.  The program is voluntary, and every participant in a conference has an equal voice.

Youth Justice Committee is composed of trained community members who meet with victims, young people who are willing to take responsibility for their actions (between the ages of 12-17 years old) accused of minor offences and other participants as appropriate to negotiate an agreement whereby the young person can make amends for his/her actions. The program offers an alternative to the traditional court system and serves the District of Parry Sound.

Intensive Support and Supervision Program (Nipissing) (top)

The Intensive Support and Supervision Program, (ISSP) is a community partnership between Hands and the Crisis Centre North Bay. ISSP provides intensive clinical and community supports, supervision and crisis management for youth in conflict with the law who have a mental health diagnosis or specialized needs that are seen to be contributing to the youth’s offending behaviour. ISSP involvement intends to keep youth with mental health problems out of the youth justice system by providing a community alternative to custody that addresses the youth’s mental health needs, reduces offending and promotes community safety. Youth involvement in the ISSP program is voluntary and requires that the youth consent to and have family support for treatment.