The CMHA Perth County Branch opened in 1967 with a budget of just $4,500. When the Bluewater Mental Hospital in Goderich closed in 1975, funds were redirected to inpatient psychiatric services in Stratford and Goderich.
CMHA Perth County began providing housing and support services in the early 1980s and in 1997 extended its services to Huron County. In 2000, it was renamed CMHA Huron Perth. The branch now has three offices; Stratford, Seaforth and Goderich.
Today, the local organization provides a wide range of support services to people with mental illness, while continuing to place an emphasis on educating the public and eliminating the stigma of mental illness. Its annual operating budget is now more than $3 million.
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Services Offered
Case Management * community connections * housing * advocacy * income and budgeting * support in treatment plans * family relationships * education about mental illness * connection to drug and alcohol * addiction treatment
Peer Support *social and recreation programs and activities * peer friendships * one on one support with a peer mentor
Family Support * individual support to family members * monthly support group for family members
Court Support * assistance for people with a mental illness in conflict with the law * attending court * court diversion/pre-charge diversion * release from detention * consultation with others in the justice system
Fees and Payment
All services are free and confidential.
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
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Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.