Good assessment may be crucial to understanding and assisting persons with mental health issues, as well as helping their families. Assessments of persons with mental health issues may be done for a variety of reasons at various times in their lives, including:
- to obtain or clarify an initial diagnosis
- to document diagnostic status necessary for access to services or funding
- to help understand the person
The needs or concerns expressed by the child and family will be considered when a decision is made regarding a request for assessment.
For the purpose of transition, the Timmins Transition Committee partners have agreed that assessments should be completed during specific transition peak times to ensure that the child/youth will be fully supported as needed and allow the transition to occur as successfully and with most ease as possible.
The type of assessment completed will depend on the needs or concerns expressed by the child, youth, young adult or family.
- Psychological assessment
- Psychiatric assessment
- Other specialized assessments as recommended by a physician or mental health service provider
0 – School Entry
If you are involved with a service provider, please speak to them about the need for an assessment for your child at this age. There are many strategies that can be implemented to address mental health concerns for your child at this age. If you are not involved with a service provider, please speak to a physician.
Junior Kindergarten – High school
If you are involved with a service provider, please speak to them about the need for an assessment for your child at this age. There are many strategies that can be implemented to address mental health concerns for your child at this age. If you are not involved with a service provider, please speak to a physician.
Depending on your child’s needs and situation, updated assessments may be required to:
- Monitor child’s progress
- Update recommendations
It is important to note that many of these services have waitlists. Therefore, it’s important to discuss initiating the need for an assessment as early as possible.
- Child and Family Services of Timmins and District
- Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre (if youth has an intellectual disability)
- Private mental health practitioner (please consult yellow pages for local listing)
High School – Adulthood
Planning during this time should take into account which assessments will be required and what the timeframes for these will be as they may be determined by these services’ mandates and available resources.
It is important to note that many of these services have waitlists. Therefore, it’s important to discuss the need for assessment as early as possible.
Please keep in mind that a transition from children to adult services may require a referral to another agency. Updated service information and/or assessments may be required to support future adult programs.
Youth:
- Child and Family Services of Timmins and District
- Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre (if youth has an intellectual disability)
- Canadian Mental Health Association (16 years of age )
- Private mental health practitioners (please consult yellow pages for local listing)
Adult services:
- Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre (if adult has an intellectual disability)
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Ontario Disabililty Support Program (can apply at 17.5 years of age)
