Ooshke Bemahdesewin
Program Description
Ooshke Bemahdesewin Mental Health Services is a voluntary rehabilitation service offered by Alpha Court for aboriginal people with a serious mental illness.
The mandate of the program is to assist aboriginal adults aged 16 and over with a serious mental illness to live successfully in the community through the provision of mental health services, which are geared to individual need.
Ooshke Bemahdesewin provides goal oriented culturally competent rehabilitation services, which incorporates and respects aboriginal culture. Aboriginal mental health professionals work individually with the person to tailor services to meet identified need. Access to cultural programs is available.
Services offered by the program include:
- Supportive counselling
- Assessment
- Individualized planning
- Direct service provision (i.e. life skills teaching, budgeting assistance)
- Supported housing
- Coordination of services and support
- Advocacy
- Aboriginal programming/groups
- Access to cultural resources/elders
- Educational/vocational supports
All of the above services are offered in a cultural format that creates a sense of hope and a path to follow which encourages people to attain the goals that they have set for themselves.
Admission Criteria
- Primary diagnosis is a serious mental illness, defind according to diagnosis, duration and disability
- Aboriginal person 16 years of age or over
- Need for assistance, support and skill teaching in order to live successfully in the community
Exclusion may be deemed necessary due to one or a combination of the following:
- Primary diagnosis is one of substance abuse or developmental challenge
- Organic brain syndrome
- Involved in similar program
- Unwilling to participate
- Repetitive history of violent or abusive behaviour
