Photo caption: The one-link team at Halton Healthcare.
Knowing where to turn for mental health and addiction support can be daunting for individuals, families, and even providers looking for services for their patients. one-Link, led by Halton Healthcare, recognized this need and developed an access service that is equitable, easy to navigate and coordinated for those seeking support.
Part of one-Link's success, which recently marked its 10-year anniversary, is its ease of access. Individuals can call one-Link or have their family physician or health care provider complete a referral form. A service coordinator reviews the request and contacts individuals directly to discuss service needs or forwards the referral directly to the appropriate mental health and addictions service. one-Link peer mentors provide telephone-based support to individuals while they wait for services to begin leading to better matching of appropriate services, and more effective use of services across a variety of organizations.
Initially funded as a gateway to appropriate care while minimizing wait times for adults in Mississauga-Halton, one-Link has expanded to connect child and adolescent referrals in the area with appropriate access points. one-Link is staffed by a diverse, dedicated team of service coordinators responsible for clinical prioritization and service navigation, as well as peer mentors —specially trained professionals with lived experience in mental health and addictions. The peer mentor team provides connection and support as part of care navigation, bridging the gap between one-Link service co-ordination and care initiation.
"The one-Link team are pioneers in coordinated access and navigation for mental health and addictions care in our region. They have maintained a focus on improving the patient experience through timely screening, objective identification of a client's care needs, and direction to appropriate resources," said Dr. Sammy Barakat, Chief of Psychiatry and Program Medical Director, Mental Health and Addictions Program, Halton Healthcare.
"Their work includes waitlist peer support and data collection that fuels ongoing quality improvement. These practices, developed and refined over a decade, now serve as a model of choice as coordinated access expands across the province."
The service also supports primary care providers with recommendations for patients outside of Mississauga-Halton, offers learning opportunities and hosts primary care education events. one-Link was formally recognized by the Mississauga-Halton LHIN in 2018 with the Partnering for a Healthy Community Award – Pinnacle Award.
"One-Link turning 10 is an achievement that belongs to everyone who has contributed to making coordinated access a success— our dedicated team, community partners, and, most importantly, the individuals and families who have benefited from our services. Over the past 10 years, we have demonstrated that collaboration leads to better mental health and addiction outcomes. As we look to the future, we remain committed to innovation, inclusivity, and ensuring that everyone can access the support they need when they need it ." — Michelle Edwards, team lead at one-Link.
Led by Halton Healthcare, one-Link is a mental health and addictions access model that serves as the front door to Ontario Health-funded outpatient services in Mississauga and Halton including:
- Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch (CMHA HRB)
- CarePoint Health – Ontario Structured Psychotherapy
- Halton Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Assessment Prevention & Treatment Services (ADAPT)
- Halton Healthcare
- Hope Place Centres
- Peel Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre (PAARC)
- STRIDE
- Summit Housing
- Support House
- Trillium Health Partners
When asked about their experience, a one- Link client said, "I look forward to feeling much better with the needed help I'll receive from one-Link." Another client added "Thank you for giving me hope."
For more information on one-Link and its services, visit: onelink.ca