Too often, a period of homelessness associated with substance use can have a devastating impact on a young person's future: heavy drug use, the stress of a homeless lifestyle, and the trauma that can be experienced increase vulnerability to developing serious mental health problems. Conversely, the disorganization associated with severe psychiatric problems combined with substance use too often leads to homelessness.

These young people, who are difficult to reach, often do not receive the care they need in time and experience the worst consequences of these physical and mental health problems. The main objective of this project is to give these young people their future back. The project aims to offer those living with severe mental health disorders and substance use a path out of homelessness by combining medical and social services, housing, and a return to productive life in an intensive, integrated approach within a single outreach team. This outreach team will support the teams at Clinique JAP (Jeunes Adultes Psychotiques) and the Addiction Psychiatry Service (SPT) at the CHUM, so that more intensive outreach services can be offered to these young people.

Affiliated with the Psychotic Young Adult Clinic (JAP)

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Who is the project for?

• Young adults aged 18-30 years
• At risk of homelessness or living on the street
• Have an emerging severe substance abuse and mental health problem and have not had access to appropriate treatment for concurrent disorders.

The first contact can take place, either:

• In an organization attended by the young person or in our offices located at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal.
• The young person can come alone or accompanied by workers with whom they have developed a bond of trust.

Radio-Canada report on ÉQIIP SOL — Part 1 (audio, 2016)

Radio-Canada report on ÉQIIP SOL — Part 2 (audio, 2016)

The ÉQIIP d'intervention intensive de proximité - SOL was awarded an honourable mention at the 2014 Health and Social Services Awards of Excellence (category: Accessibility to care and services). The ÉQIIP d'intervention intensive de proximité - SOL was also a finalist for the 2020 Health and Social Services Awards of Excellence (category: Partnership) for the Réseau d'intervention de proximité auprès des jeunes de la rue.

ASSESSMENT

First contact will be made within 24 hours (business days) of the request to determine whether the person can benefit from the project's services, or to help refer them to the appropriate services.

If needed, a more in-depth assessment by a psychiatrist and psychosocial clinicians can be done to identify the person's needs and refer them to appropriate treatment.

TREATMENT

The project aims to bridge community services with the medical and psychosocial treatments specific to the people we serve. Treatment prioritizes interventions in the person's living environment. Joint follow-up with the clinicians already involved with the young person is therefore a priority.

Interventions aim to build independence in vocational (work / studies), social (building a social network and connecting with community resources that meet their needs), and psychological (a better understanding of their health problems and how substance use affects them) areas.

After the assessment, the young person will be offered suggestions and a referral to treatment at Clinique JAP, the SPT, or other resources, with the aim of stabilizing psychiatric symptoms and/or the difficulties caused by substance use and homelessness.

Our main partners are:

. Le Bon Dieu dans la rue
. Le Refuge des Jeunes
. Passages
. Maison Saint-Dominique
. Cactus
. Médecins du Monde Montréal
. Diogène

Phone: 514 890-8242
Fax: 514 412-7415

If this is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency department of the nearest hospital.

First contact can take place:

• At organizations the young person already attends
• In our offices at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM).

The young person can come alone or accompanied by clinicians with whom they have developed a trusting relationship.