MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ⓘ THE CCMHS PROVIDES CANADA-WIDE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES. THE CCMHS DOES NOT PROVIDE CRISIS SERVICES. IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS, PLEASE GO TO YOUR NEAREST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, OR CALL 9-1-1 OR THE TOLL FREE 24H CRISIS LINE AT 1-866-996-0991 FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. THE CCMHS TEAM WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSESS YOU ONCE YOUR SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN STABILIZED.
Value of collaborative Care
The CCMHS offers collaborative mental health care, which means that the CCMHS interdisciplinary team of practitioners seamlessly works together to assess clients' needs and to establish and deliver the most effective and efficient care plans that take into consideration sport and performance-specific factors. Care plans are informed by ongoing dialogue and assessment as well as the Mental Triad Model, which prioritizes 3 key interrelated dimensions affecting our daily functioning and performance: mental health, mental illness, and mental performance. The following infographics illustrate the Mental Triad Model and definitions for each dimension in the model.
CCMHS mental health care is distinct from general mental health care available through Canada’s public and private health care systems. Various practitioners are involved in improving clients’ mental health, mental performance, and mental illness symptoms. The following infographic illustrates different types of practitioners who may be providing care depending on clients’ mental performance and mental health indicators that can be tracked using the Continuum of Mental Health Zones.
Characteristics of Practitioners
The following infographic provides information on the education and scope of practice of different types of practitioners offering services within the CCMHS. Generally, Mental Performance Consultants help with the enhancement and maintenance of sport performance and mental health (Healthy to Reacting Phases). Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, and Psychologists help when either occasional (Reacting Phase), persistent (Injured Phase), or significant changes (Ill Phase) in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors occur, leading to reduced mental health and/or increased mental illness symptoms. Psychologists, Medical Doctors, or Psychiatrists are sought if a mental illness diagnosis is required (Injured to Ill Phases). Finally, Medical Doctors or Psychiatrists are required for any pharmacological treatment (prescription and management of medication).
“I can tell you I’ve probably had at least half a dozen depression spells that I’ve gone through. And the one in 2014, I didn’t want to be alive”
4Cs of CCMHS services
SPORT CENTERED
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Practitioners do not tailor therapeutic approaches based on sport/performance-specific factors.
Practitioners do not have sport science/performance psychology training.
Practitioners’ lack of knowledge and competencies in the sport/performance domain can lead to misdiagnosis and debilitative labeling and recommendations (e.g., your sport is too stressful, therefore you should quit; you have odd eating patterns and restrictions, therefore you have disordered eating).
CCMHS MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Practitioners tailor therapeutic approaches based on sport/performance-specific factors (e.g., performance demands, competitive pressure, sport/performance specialization, year-round training/coaching, coaching/teaching style, funding, injuries, transitions in and out of sport/performance domain, peak and recovery periods, diet restrictions, team members, sport/performance culture, traveling schedule, anti-doping regulations).
Practitioners have sport science/performance psychology training, understand the intricacies of the competitive sport/performance environment, and have extensive experience working with competitive and high-performance athletes, coaches, and performance artists.
COLLABORATIVE
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
There is no integration or continuity of care because practitioners typically work in silos and do not interact to determine optimal or best treatment plans.
Practitioners’ different therapeutic approaches and recommendations can be contradictory and negatively impact individuals’ performance (e.g., psychiatrist recommends a break from sport until medication is stabilized while psychotherapist suggests only reducing number of hours of training per week so that athlete can still compete in one month).
CCMHS MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Practitioners work as an integrated unit and collaborate on a regular basis to determine and adjust care plans.
Practitioners represent core mental health and mental performance regulated professions in Canada (e.g., mental performance consultants, counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists).
Practitioners work with athletes/coaches/performing artists’ extended support team, as permitted, to optimize care as well and transitions in and out of the CCMHS (e.g., discuss care plan with existing team physician for additional support while away at a competition).
COMPREHENSIVE
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Practitioners put in place general treatment plans that do not meticulously address the complex roles, identities, and demands that athletes, coaches, and performing artists must manage within their sport/performance system and culture.
CCMHS MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Practitioners put in place specific care plans that take into account the complex roles, identities, and demands that athletes/coaches/performing artists must manage within their sport/performance system and culture throughout a competitive season (e.g., plan respects training and competition standards, goals, and schedules, and addresses coach/teammates/family/support staff demands).
CONVENIENT
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Access to mental health care is limited, with wait times of over one year in Canada.
Hospital emergency departments are overloaded and prioritize acutely suicidal patients.
Practitioners’ therapeutic approaches and schedules are restrictive (e.g., psychologists only see patients on weekdays from 9am to 5pm in private office).
CCMHS MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Mental health care is provided in a timely, efficient, and reliable manner (e.g., practitioners follow a systematic and speedy process to assess eligibility criteria and needs).
Practitioners are flexible and accommodating to best meet the needs and preferences of athletes/coaches/performing artists (e.g., offer extended hours of services throughout the week and weekend, with on-call practitioners for emergencies).
Practitioners provide both in-person and online services to accommodate athletes/coaches/performing artists’ various sport/performance contexts as well as schedule and travel constraints (e.g., can attend training/practices and travel with individuals to competitions or work remotely as needed).