Adult mental health
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.” According to this definition, being mentally healthy means more than simply not being ill.*
Mental illness is defined by changes that affect a person’s thoughts, mood or behaviour, causing them distress or suffering.
For more information about adult mental health, consult the following pages:
- Pochette d'accueil et sondage de satisfaction
- Who can receive services?
- Composition of the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent team
- Quels sont les services de consultation offerts?
- Prévention du suicide
- Justice and mental health support program
Who can receive services?
Any adult with a diagnosed mental disorder associated with psychological distress and a level of impairment that hinders their interpersonal relationships and their basic social skills can receive mental health services offered by the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent.
These disorders can be temporary or persistent and vary in intensity.
CISSS professionals offer follow-up and treatment adapted to each user. This helps improve their quality of life through better psychological and social functioning.
Assistance and support are also offered to the people close to them (parents, children, significant others).
Composition of the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent team
- Social workers
- Peer support workers
- Psychologists
- Psychoeducators
- Nurses
- Licensed practical nurses
- Health and social services assistants
- Attendants
- Occupational therapists
- Special educators
- Neuropsychologists
- Kinesiologists
- Psychiatrists
- Other professionals
Suicide prevention
Suicidal intent does not occur all of a sudden. People who are thinking about suicide usually show signs that can alert their friends or family to their distress and their intentions. To find out more, consult the suicide prevention section on our website.
Justice and mental health support program (PAJ-SM)
The Programme d’accompagnement justice-santé mentale – PAJ-SM [justice and mental health support program] in Montréal is for adults who show indicators of a mental health problem (diagnosed or not) and have issues with the law.
Program objectives
- Promote community-based supervision and follow-up rather than incarceration
- Aim for rehabilitation and recovery, preventing recidivism
- Promote concerted support from different partners
- Humanize the justice system
Eligibility criteria
- Be an adult who has committed summary criminal offences
- Be competent, committed and criminally responsible
- Have the willingness and capacity to recover from their problematic actions
- Show signs of mental health problems and a risk of social breakdown at the time of the offence or during the judicial process
- Demonstrate a direct link between the mental health issue and the offence or the individual’s ability to cope with the judicial process
Consult our pamphlet (in French) for more information on available resources.