Mental health walk-ins are welcome at CLSCs in Montérégie
Mental health services are available at all CLSCs from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., either in person or by phone.
People seeking mental health support can now visit any CLSC in the CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre without needing an appointment.
This includes locations in Brossard, Chambly, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and Lacolle. The region is the first in Quebec to offer improved walk-in access to mental health services at all its CLSCs.
Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant announced this initiative on Monday in Brossard, describing it as a move towards easier and simpler access to mental health care.
Mental health services are available at all CLSCs from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., either in person or by phone.
Visitors to a CLSC can expect to see an intervener within an hour, and phone calls will be returned within 24 hours. In the 2023-2024 period, over 5,465 requests were processed, with nearly a quarter handled in person at the CLSC without appointments.
Minister Carmant plans to extend this walk-in model across Quebec and aims to expand the “Aires ouvertes” service, which provides help with or without appointments to youth aged 12 to 25. A nurse or social worker will greet the patient and assist them in finding solutions.
Since the introduction of “Aires ouvertes” in April 2023, the waiting list for mental health services for young people has been reduced by more than half. This service is available at nearly 40 locations in Quebec.
Carmant highlighted that CLSCs are a better alternative to emergency rooms, where wait times for non-urgent cases can be between seven to ten hours.
He encourages those on mental health waiting lists in Montérégie-Centre who need a reassessment to visit their local CLSC.
For those who prefer phone support, the Info-Social line at 811, option two, is available.
