Who is eligible for participating in Grow?

• Adults over 19 years of age who have a diagnosis of a mental illness
• Are actively supported by a primary care provider (G.P., physician or psychiatrist) for their mental health
• Symptoms of mental illness are a barrier to participating in the greater community
• Are willing to participate in groups and one-on-one goal-setting with a Recovery Coach
• Looking for short term support to promote successful engagement in the greater community.

Can I be referred by a walk-in clinic physician?

Maybe – if you are known to the physician and they are able and willing to offer on-going support and collaboration with Grow coaches it may be adequate to meet the eligibility requirement. We recommend clients that do not have a family physician develop a relationship with a walk-in clinic physician – see the same doctor (often by going the same day of the week) a number of times so they get to know you and your mental health needs.

How long can I participate in Grow?

Length of involvement in Grow will be determined based on the goals and needs of the client. The Recovery Coach and client will set Recovery Goals and the goals will be revisited and revised regularly to track progression. Typical involvement for client in Grow can be anywhere from a few months to up to 1 year.  

Is there a cost to participate in Grow programming?

Programming is free; however, if finances are the primary barrier to engagement in community programming, the Life Pass (Victoria), Life Pass (Saanich), the Downtown Community Centre or Connections Place may be more suitable options to pursue.

Does Grow provide counseling services?

No. We do not provide counseling. Participants of Grow work with “Recovery Coaches” to move toward individual goals. Our team does not include clinical counselors. If you are looking for reduced cost counseling options here are a few options: Citizens’ Counselling, Esquimalt Neighbourhood House and South Island Centre.

Does Grow have support groups?

No. ICMH does host support groups led by community agencies, including a Borderline Personality Support Group, Anxiety Management Support Group, and Mood Disorder Support Group. Please call reception at 250-389-1211 for contact information for these groups.

Clinician/Referrer Questions

My client is looking for more things to do in their day. Would they benefit from Grow?

Maybe – Grow is a transitional program, meaning we are not a resource to provide individuals with on-going structured activities. We offer a “stepping stone” toward existing activities and programs (ie. Connections Place, community Rec Centres) and short term support to pursue these activities and programs. If you feel some additional coaching and experiences in a supported mental health environment could promote success in the community and your client is willing, able and ready to engage in goal-setting, your client is likely a good fit.

My client is recently out of hospital. Are they eligible for participation in Grow?

Maybe. If the client has your on-going support for their mental health needs and their mental health is relatively stable, they could benefit from our programming. If your client is continuing to under-go medication adjustments and more “acute” mental health support, they may be better supported by Mental Wellness Day Program or may be more successful in starting Grow once they have established more stability in their mental health.

I’m ready to discharge my client. Can I refer to Grow for ongoing support?

Probably not. Grow is a collaborative, team approach – we aim to collaborate with a participant’s support system. We are not a primary mental health support. A client requires ongoing primary mental health support – this could include a family physician or walk in clinic that knows the client and supports their mental health related needs.

My client’s primary mental illness diagnosis is a Personality Disorder. Would they benefit from Grow programming?

They could – absolutely. Consideration of DBT, the BPD support group and other more specific resources for Personality Disorders should be considered; however, our Recovery Coaches and many of our workshops may meet the needs of individuals with Personality Disorder diagnoses.

My client is just looking for one-on-one support. Can they be a participant in Grow without doing any groups?

We see huge benefits of group settings to support mental health; however, individuals may not be in a place in their recovery to engage in groups. While it is ok if a participant does not wish to start in a group right away, an expectation of the Grow program is that they are working toward group participation in the future. Especially during COVID, there is flexibility around group participation. Goal-setting, Recovery Planning and other one-to-one work can support a client to overcome barriers to group participation.

My client is just looking for groups and does not see a need for one-on-one coaching. Can they participant in Grow without doing the Recovery Planning with a coach?

No. We aim to tailor our supports to an individual’s needs; however, if a client is looking for group involvement in a setting with others with mental illnesses without the one-on-one coaching, they may be better suited to Connections Place or Support groups in the community, including these hosted at 125 Skinner St (BPD Support, Mood Disorder Support, Anxiety Management Support, email kbagshawcounselling@gmail.com).

Is Grow a clinical environment?

We see ourselves as somewhere in between clinical and community environments.

On the clinical side, it is important to us to maintain a collaborative approach with primary mental health supports. We will ask questions about a person’s experience with mental illness with the aim of provided client-centred care.

On the community side, we do not document Grow involvement in Island Health records and we do not have access to Island Health records; however, we do document a client’s progress and engagement within ICMH.

We are a piece of the mental health journey – we can offer some additional mental health support to facilitate success in the “greater community” with less reliance on formal mental health supports.

Still have questions? Still unsure if this program is right for you or your client?

Please feel free to contact reception for any questions you may have at: 250-389-1211