The Child and Youth Mental Health program (CYMH) at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is located at our Hotel Dieu Hospital site (HDH) in downtown Kingston.
Families and patients should be seen by their family doctor first, for an initial assessment and interventions. If those interventions are not successful your family doctor would then refer you to the nearest community mental health agency for further assessment and assistance.
As a tertiary care centre, care s provided by our Child and Youth Mental Health program once all other treatment options are exhausted, and the patient and their family continue to require a higher level of care and treatment.
Referrals from doctors, family health teams and nurse practitioners in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) are processed through our centralized triage process in collaboration with our partners at The Maltby Centre (formally known as Pathways for Children and Youth) who are the lead children’s mental health agency in KFL&A. Referrals can also be sent directly to our program from community partners such as school boards and children’s mental health agencies. Doctors, family health teams, and nurse practitioners from outside of KFL&A can also refer to our services, and referrals will be triaged accordingly.
Our referrals are triaged by our intake coordinator who determines the most appropriate course of action. Prior to an intake assessment all necessary information is gathered to determine what services are required. This assessment may include a telephone interview, e-mail request or in-person visit. Please note you may have to complete consent forms at your first visit in order to facilitate information sharing with our community partners. Your initial assessment may take between three and four hours.
Our catchment area covers the South-East Local Health Integration Network (SE-LHIN) which includes the cities of: Brighton, Trenton, Picton, Bancroft, Northbrook, Belleville, Napanee, Sharbot Lake, Kingston, Perth, Smiths Falls, Westport, Gananoque, Merrickville, Brockville, and Prescott. There are no fees to access our services, but you are required to bring a valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card to your initial and all subsequent appointments.
You will also be asked to bring a current medication list with you that includes prescription medication, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, or any naturopathic remedies.
Patient Information Brochures
Bullying: Informaton Awareness for Parents and Guardians
Cutting: What Parents and Guardians Need to Know
Cyber Safety: Tips for Families about social media and the internet
Mental Wellness: Healthy Habits for Mental Health
Sleep Hygiene: Advice for Patients and their Caregivers
