Recovery Program

For people with functional deficits caused by prolonged illness and long hospitalizations, The Royal’s Recovery Program provides recovery-focused treatment within a residential setting.

Meet Mike. At age 30, Mike has schizophrenia. While his friends have gotten married, started families and advanced their careers, Mike’s hopes were dashed by symptoms and prolonged hospitalizations due to schizophrenia. His psychiatrist referred him to The Royal’s Recovery Program, where he could start to overcome his loss of self, values, roles, power and most importantly: hope. Upon admission, Mike worked with a range of professionals to set realistic goals that he would work towards for the next six months.

Click here to meet some of our clients.

The Recovery Program focuses on:

  • Recovery-focused treatment, education and opportunities for skill-building.
  • A holistic view of mental illness that focuses on the person, not just the symptoms
  • Improving self identity
  • Embracing responsibility
  • Developing meaningful roles
  • Hope

The goal is for people to move back into the community and live as independently as possible, accessing available community supports.

The Recovery Program offers unique programming which is designed to help individuals reach their goals. Using an evidence based technique called Illness Management Recovery (IMR) the program helps individuals to focus on and set specific goals, and also to develop the skills necessary to meet their goals. Realistic goals vary from person to person and could include:

  • Improved social skills
  • Increasing physical activity levels
  • Ability to take the bus independently
  • Develop a vocational activity: volunteer role, competitive employment or return to school
  • Improving self-care, like making healthy eating choices

People are discharged when they:

  • Successfully reach their goals
  • Demonstrate a level of functioning in activities of daily living required to live in the most appropriate environment of their choice
  • Progress to a point where they can no longer benefit from the program

Upon discharge, people transition back to the care and support of their referring team, for example, family doctor, case manager or Assertive Community Treatment Team. Referral agencies are key participants in developing discharge plans and to make referrals to local community resources when appropriate. The average stay at the Recovery Program is six months.

Our interdisciplinary team includes a Psychiatrist, Recreation Therapist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Dietician, Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses, Peer Support Workers and Personal Care Attendants.

Referring to the Recovery Program
Referrals are submitted by the responsible physician, psychiatrist or agency from the current treatment program. Referrals can be made by contacting the Recovery Program Clerk at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, 613-722-6521 ext 6070 Monday to Friday between 7 am and 3 pm. A referral package will be sent to you.

Referral Eligibility

  • Persons within the general adult population of the Champlain Region LHIN
  • Have a DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis
  • Have significant impairment in his or her ability to successfully function within the community. This is demonstrated by a lack of meaningful activity, social roles or functional ability to manage self-care or live in the community with minimal formal support.
  • Capable of engaging in the recovery process and aware of the referral

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team: an interdisciplinary team of mental health professionals working in partnership with clients living with serious and persistent mental illness. On this page click the Treatments tab for referral information.

A Post Psychiatric Leisure Experience (APPLE): focus on providing leisure and recreational opportunities with the goal of helping consumer-survivors make new friends and have fun.
211 Bronson Avenue, Bronson Centre (basement), Ottawa
Phone: 613.238.1209

Canadian Mental Health Association Ottawa: dedicated to promoting good mental health, developing and implementing support systems and services and encouraging public action to strengthen community mental health services and related policies and legislation.
1355 Bank Street, Suite 301, Ottawa
Phone: 613.737.7791

Ottawa Salus Corporation Community Mental Health Services: offers rehabilitation services, community support services, recreology and housing to men and women, 16 years of age or older, with mental health problems.
2000 Scott Street, Ottawa
Phone: 613.729.0123

Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa: staff and volunteers offer individual and group peer support, and inform and educate the community about the needs of consumers and survivors.
211 Bronson Ave, Suite 313, Ottawa
Phone: 613.567.4379.