What to expect when you come to CAMH

Some people may be admitted to CAMH through our Emergency Department and some may be referred by their family doctor or another healthcare provider. You can find out more about the referral process here.

Everyone has the legally protected right to decide if they want treatment. However, in some situations, the Mental Health Act provides ways for people to receive an emergency assessment without their consent. For more information, please see this page.

You can find contact information, directions and accessibility information for each of our three main sites on the Visiting CAMH page on this site.

When you arrive at the Emergency Department (ED), you will meet with a triage nurse and program assistant. They will check for unsafe items and ask you to remove anything unsafe that they find. They will then decide the best next steps for your care and where you should go for further assessment. 

After you go through triage and are waiting to be assessed, the staff will ask you to stay in the waiting area. If you need anything to make the wait more comfortable, please speak to one of the nursing team.

If you have brought anyone with you, they will usually wait for you in the waiting room while you are being assessed. If you are a minor, you will normally need to bring a family member in to your assessment with you.

Make sure you bring items such as food and water – especially if it is night when many local cafés will be closed — and a charger for your mobile device. If you are there during the day, you can go to the family resource centre for support while you are waiting.

Please note you will be asked to wear a mask while you are at CAMH.

Whether you are coming for inpatient or outpatient services, the first step in your treatment at CAMH is putting together your personalized care plan. 

Your care team will develop your care plan with you. To understand what treatment might work best for you, CAMH clinicians will meet with you and ask you questions about how you are doing right now, and your treatment history. They will also talk to you about what you want your treatment to achieve. 

For some patients, this initial assessment will take place in the Emergency Department, before you are admitted to the hospital.

Wherever possible, your care plan will be based on your unique social, physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual and psychological needs, and will reflect your preferences, hopes and beliefs. You and your care team will refer back to your care plan regularly throughout your time with CAMH, and make changes if needed. This is to make sure your treatment is staying on track.

If you live in Ontario- your treatment at CAMH is likely covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Please bring your OHIP card and any private health insurance information with you when you come to the hospital.

If you are covered by another provincial health plan- you will need approval from your plan before receiving treatment at CAMH. Please bring your provincial health card and coverage address.

If you are a refugee- you will be asked to provide proof of your refugee status to receive treatment coverage. You can find information about your OHIP options here.

If you have recently immigrated to Canada and do not yet have your health card- you will be asked to provide proof of your immigration status.

Your treatment team at CAMH will employ a holistic, collaborative approach to ensure all of your needs are being met. From the beginning, we work with you to identify treatment goals and then assemble a care team who can best achieve them.

Depending on your treatment needs, your team may include a number of cross-disciplinary health care providers. This could include psychiatrists and other physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, spiritual and religious caregivers, occupational and recreation therapists, pharmacists, laboratory technologists, dietitians, peer support workers, addiction therapists, and child and youth workers — whatever works best for you.

You can find out what you need to know about staying at CAMH — from what to bring, to services available while you’re here — on our Staying at CAMH page.

Please note, that you may be asked to give your mobile device(s) to a nurse when you arrive, and/or you may not have access to your mobile device(s) at all times during your stay. This is to protect the privacy of all our patients. If you need to use your phone during your stay, you can usually use it in the hospital lobby area.

CAMH has many different programs to meet the needs of people at various stages of their lives and illnesses. To find out more about the service that will be treating you, please search our programs and services directory.

Please visit the Accessibility page on our website for more information about accommodations for accessibility needs.

If you or a family member feel more comfortable with a language that is not English, CAMH can find you a free professional interpreter, to help during assessments, treatments and consultations. The service is available 24/7. Please ask a member of your care team.

You can also find information in other languages on the CAMH website, or visit the Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre for more resources that support culturally safe mental health care.