Day Hospital Program

This is an intensive, in-person, outpatient program at the General site offering groups and individual support and assessment from a multidisciplinary team.

A recent program restructuring now offers a new program, teaching Dialectical Behavioural Therapy skills, based on mindfulness principles, to provide strategies on improving distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.  Other groups included involve interpersonal therapy, nutrition, pharmacy, therapeutic recreation and peer support.

For patients who would benefit more from closer medication management and life skills, there is a modified program offered through the Day Hospital program as well.

Adults (18+) who have a primary psychiatric condition (eg. mood, anxiety, psychotic, or personality disorders), requiring a higher intensity of care, as an alternative to inpatient treatment.  Patients must be able to participate in groups that are delivered in English.

Patients who have acute safety concerns, who are medically unstable, acutely intoxicated, or have moderate-severe cognitive impairment would not be suitable for this program.

At this time, given high demand, and to support the program’s mandate of supporting individuals with the highest level of acuity as quickly as possible, only internal hospital referrals are being accepted.  Patients are typically referred through an NYGH psychiatrist.

The majority of referrals are sent from the inpatient units and crisis, and patients are typically accommodated within days of referral.  Referrals from outpatient psychiatry have a waitlist of weeks.

The Day Hospital staff are comprised of a multidisciplinary team.  The DBT skills groups are delivered by nurses, social worker, occupational therapist and therapeutic recreationist.   Other groups are provided by the pharmacist, dietitian and peer support.  Each patient will also see a psychiatrist for assessment and medication management.  Case managers offer individual support throughout the program.

Treatment is provided by the team throughout the four week admission, as a discrete episode of care.  Appropriate referrals to ongoing resources and supports will be made during the program, and ongoing care is not provided by the Day Hospital staff on completion of the program.