Current Wait Time

Approximately 5-6 months (once referral is received). 

[Last updated on: January 31, 2023]
 

Program Overview

Telepsychiatry, one of the services in TeleMental Health, is a modality of care that delivers real-time client care via secure videoconferencing. This innovative and effective mode of health services delivery bridges geographical disparities and improves access to psychiatric care. Consultations typically take place in health care facilities including hospitals, primary care clinics, and community-based mental health facilities; they utilize a secure telecommunications connection through the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN).

The CAMH Telepsychiatry Service provides consultation and assessment for general psychiatry, whereby clients are placed on a waitlist to be assessed by the first available psychiatrist. CAMH Telepsychiatry has also partnered directly with community organizations, including Family Health Teams, to provide both direct and indirect client care, as well as with Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telemedicine (KOTM) to provide care to clients in numerous First Nations communities in Ontario. 

Clients must be notified that the consultation will take place via videoconference. Our Telepsychiatry Service is NOT a crisis service. Clients who are experiencing a mental health crisis should go to their nearest emergency department.

Ongoing treatment or therapy is not currently offered through TeleMental Health Service.

CAMH is a teaching hospital committed to research in the field of mental health and addictions. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve client care and program development, CAMH Telepsychiatry may invite clients to participate in research and quality improvement initiatives.

 

Intended For

Adults 18 years of age or older who are seeking assessment or consultation in general psychiatry via videoconference and who live in the North East, North West and North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN regions and/or self identifies as a Partner Site in Ontario (regardless of LHIN).

 

Criteria 

Inclusion Criteria

•  Clients/patients must be 18 years of age or older. Please check with the psychiatrist before referring any client/patient under 18.

• Clients/patients looking for a consultation or assessment in general psychiatry.

• Clients/patients must be referred by a physician or nurse practitioner.

• Clients/patients must be willing to participate via videoconference on CAMH approved platforms.

• Clients/patients in the North East, North West and North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN regions and/or self identifies as a Partner Site in Ontario (regardless of LHIN)

 

General Exclusion Criteria

•  Clients/patients 17 years of age or younger. Please check with the psychiatrist before referring any client/patient under 18.

• Clients/patients in crisis who require immediate care.

• Clients/patients currently being followed by a psychiatrist.

• Clients/patients seeking assessment as requested by a third party (e.g., legal/court purposes, child services, insurance, work disputes).

• Clients/patients who refuse to participate via videoconference on CAMH approved platforms.

• Non-Partner Sites in all other LHIN regions excluding North East, North West and North SImcoe Muskoka LHIN regions.

 

Services Offered As

Outpatient. 
 

Types of Treatment and Services Offered

Real-time consultation for client care via secure videoconferencing.

 

Clinical Services 

CAMH Telepsychiatry provides general psychiatric assessments and consultations to adults throughout Ontario, and offers two distinct models of care: the general provincial referral model (GPRM) and the integrated care model (ICM).

• In the GPRM, clients are placed on a waitlist to be assessed by the first available psychiatrist for a one-time consultation.
• In the ICM, psychiatrists are partnered with a community-based organization for regularly scheduled direct and indirect care. In this model, each psychiatrist meets with their partner organization (e.g., FHT, CHC, AHAC etc.) via videoconference on a bi-weekly basis for a three hour session comprised of both direct client care (e.g. assessment, diagnosis and treatment recommendations) and indirect client care (e.g. consultation, supervision and system planning). The ICM was designed to address identified needs by increasing continuity of care for clients and increasing capacity in primary care by building virtual multi-disciplinary care teams. Since its inception in 2014, 44 community organizations have partnered with CAMH Telepsychiatry, with that number continuing to grow. Click here to view a map of the ICM communities.  

CAMH Telepsychiatry is also conducting a research study to examine client mental health outcomes in the ICM as compared to the GPRM, and to evaluate whether outcomes are affected by post-consultation follow-ups with patients and their providers. The findings of this research will help to inform quality improvement initiatives, will contribute to the evidence-base around best practice in telemental health, and will help guide future innovations in care delivery.

Referral Protocols

To view:

• The General Provincial Referral Model (GPRM) - Referral Protocol
• The Integrated Care Model (ICM) - Referral Protocol
  • ​ICM TMH CAMH  Information Sheet