Presentation Information
[SY-1-03]From office to client homes: Insights from ethno-culturally focused inter-professional practice in community mental health programs in Toronto, Canada
*Maria A.Y. Choi (Mount Sinai Hospital - Sinai Health(Canada))
Keywords:
Assertive Community Treatment,Intensive Case Management,Cultural comparison
For individuals experiencing persistent and complex mental health challenges, outreach services within community mental health programs have shown effectiveness in engaging clients and supporting recovery. In the diverse communities of the Greater Toronto Area, many immigrants face heightened stress, challenges adapting to a new cultural environment, language barriers, and experiences of discrimination. These factors can increase their risk of developing and perpetuating their mental illness. These populations also face significant barriers when accessing mainstream mental health services. Providing care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate has been shown to be particularly helpful in meeting their needs and supporting recovery. Mount Sinai Hospital’s Community Mental Health Programs, established in 1999, were created to respond to these challenges through a recovery oriented, client-centred framework that emphasizes accessibility, cultural acceptability, continuity of care, community integration, and inter-professional collaboration. The programs include the Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT), the Mental Health Court Support Program, and the geriatric mental health Seniors Wellness Centre. Each program operates with an inter-professional team and continues to evolve through strategic human resource development and localized outreach services to ensure care remains accessible, culturally responsive, and tailored to client needs. This presentation will highlight how ACTT teams adapt outreach interventions to reflect cultural contexts, local community dynamics, and the lived experiences of service users. It will also briefly discuss outreach services for older adult populations. Finally, it will share successes and challenges of inter-professional collaboration as it moves from basic coordination to fully integrated, holistic care.