Since its establishment in April 2023, the Hamilton Centre has steadily grown its influence, receiving almost 400 referrals across its Statewide Clinical Network. Out of these, 100 referrals were attributed to the Hamilton Centre Central Team, which provides service navigation, information provision, and requests for education or training across the state.

Half of the referrers in November were repeat customers, indicating high satisfaction. Colleagues were the primary source of information about the Centre's services, with 44% of the referrers learning about it from them. Hospital communications accounted for 26% of the referrals.

The diversity of referral sources highlights the broad appeal and impact of the Centre's services across various clinician groups and settings. Nurses are currently the primary referrers, with psychiatrists and psychiatry registrars following closely behind.

The Clinical Network sites have provided over 50 primary consultations and numerous secondary consultations, in addition to tailored education and training. The network sites are expanding their team with Nurse Practitioners, Peer Workers, and additional staff, preparing for a service expansion in early 2024.

These numbers reinforce the Center's dedication to creating a future where individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use, their families and supporters have access to integrated treatment, care, and support in various settings based on the intensity of their needs, strengths, and preferences.

2024 Mentorship Program

To support its ongoing growth, the Hamilton Centre plans to launch a clinician coaching and mentorship service at the central level. In addition to one-off interactions providing guidance, this initiative aims to offer clinicians support in navigating and accessing Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services for their clients. The expanded AOD Pathways team is confident about collaborating on this program, facilitating warm referrals and appropriate service linkages.

As the HC Central celebrates its 100th referral, the team looks forward to continued growth and impact in the mental health and addiction sector, with plans for service expansion and innovative initiatives on the horizon.

Our numbers reflect our services' positive impact and appeal, reinforcing our commitment to create a future where everyone has access to comprehensive mental health and addiction support. As we celebrate our 100th referral at HC Central, we are excited to see continued growth, impact, and the launch of innovative initiatives in the mental health and addiction sector."

– Irina Hart, Manager of the Hamilton Centre