Primary Care Providers are often in a position where they have very limited office time to meet current demands and more importantly; your individual needs as it pertains to your mental health concerns. For the patient, this can often feel like a “guessing game” when sufficient time and expertise is not devoted to your struggles.
To get clarity and direction for your journey, a thorough clinical assessment is helpful and ensures that you are on the right path for treatment and ultimate recovery.
This is where you get a chance to tell your story.
Through a face-to-face interview style assessment, we will cover all areas of a biopsychosocial clinical assessment, including psychoeducation and discussion of a treatment plan, while considering your desires and needs.
You will have a straightforward, dedicated, and professional ally on your side to provide you with a complete clinical assessment, education, resource linkage, and ability to collaborate with your primary care provider to help you on the road to your recovery!
“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.”— Nido Qubein
Mental Health Nursing Services include:
– full biopsychosocial clinical assessment by registered mental health nurses
– medication reviews
– navigating mental health resources and services including assistance with necessary referrals
– navigating student accommodation requests
– mental health education
– liaison with Primary Care Providers (PCP)
Cost: (some costs may be covered by your insurance provider)
Assessment and full clinical report – $485
Follow-up appointment – $150 (available only for those who have had the assessment)
Additional services available:
– consult with psychiatrist as deemed necessary by the Nursing Assessment Team (requires a referral from your PCP to be covered by Manitoba Health)
– counselling and trauma therapy at Recovery of Hope (treatment series of 6 sessions – $720)
Additional information:
– the Mental Health Nursing Assessment Team is not a crisis response service.
– only available for ages 18+
– the Mental Health Nursing Assessment Team is not able to complete third party requests (WCB, legal, Blue Cross, etc)
Nursing Assessment Team – Frequently Asked Questions (click here)
Heidi Toews, RN
After attending University of Winnipeg, Heidi obtained her Registered Nursing degree at St. Boniface School of Nursing in 1992. Although she took an interest in all areas of medicine-she fell in love with Psychiatry! This led her to initially work with adolescents, adults and seniors on the inpatient units at St. Boniface and Victoria Hospitals until she was hired at the Crisis Stabilization Unit where she met Shauna D (NAT). She took a shine to and excelled at crisis intervention and Community Nursing and honed her skills as a Clinical Lead for 10 years.
Her next career move took her to Concordia Hospital where she worked as the Psychiatric Emergency Nurse for 4 years before greener pastures called Heidi and her young family to Morden, MB. There, Heidi worked on the Dementia Special Care Unit at Salem Home and the Eden Mental Health Centre (EMHC) inpatient unit before she was approached to develop the first Mental Health Liaison Nurse position at Boundary Trails Health Centre. During this time, she was also a private contractor for Southern RHA, working as an Emergency Mental Health Consultant for all the regional Emergency rooms.
After 10 years of this dynamic work, Heidi was approached by EMHC to work as the Clinical Research Nurse and Outpatient Coordinator; a new position which she took a primary role in developing. Heidi has sat on the Southern RHA Mental Health Planning Committee and has been an instrumental voice in advocating for the progression and development of mental health services for the region.
Heidi’s passion lies in clinical assessment and ensuring people have a chance to tell their story and be empowered to seek Recovery. She has intimate and personal experience with familial mental health issues which lends to her empathic approach with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Heidi lives in Winnipeg with her partner, two adult children and 5-year-old granddaughter. In her spare time, she enjoys various sports, painting and exploring the city’s cuisine! Humor is always a part of her fabric, and she holds to the philosophy that your present circumstances don’t determine where you go…they merely determine where you start!
Shauna Derksen, RPN
Shauna has obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree (Sociology/Psychology) from the University of Manitoba in 1988. In 1990 she graduated from the Selkirk Mental Health Center School of Psychiatric Nursing as the recipient of the Gold Medal Award for academic and clinical expertise. Although Shauna has worked as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse at a variety of hospitals (SOGH, HSC, VGH), much of her professional experience was gained in community settings. Her career began at the Salvation Army Crisis Stabilization Unit as the Program Supervisor where she assisted with the program development and expansion of services from an 8-bed male only unit to a 14-bed co-ed facility and assisted with the development of the Mobile Crisis Unit. These projects were the first of their kind in Manitoba and were copied in other health regions and have improved mental health services provincewide. Following this, she spent time honing her assessment and system navigation skills as an Intensive Case Manager, and later as a Community Mental Health Worker for individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses to assist them in their recovery process.
Shauna continued to be engaged in the development of new community mental health initiatives throughout her career; she was a team member of the first PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) team in Winnipeg, as well as the Team Leader and Clinical Supervisor of the first two Mental Health Teams in the WRHA Community Mental Health Program. She has also contracted out to Brandon University as a Clinical Instructor for their Psychiatric Nursing Program in acute care settings.
Shauna is passionate about assisting individuals in their recovery from mental health difficulties as well as helping them connect with appropriate mental health services. Perhaps this passion stems in part from her professional experiences, however it also stems from her personal experiences with her own family members, and their struggle to move forward in their recovery. It is clear to her that finding the right helpers has been invaluable; however their recovery journeys have not always been linear, nor without difficulties. She would be honoured to offer her skills and expertise to work with assisting you in your own recovery journey.
Shauna has lives in Winnipeg with her life partner, her daughter, and her beloved pets. She also has two adult sons and a daughter-in-law who she loves spending time with. One of her greatest joys in life is spending time with her granddaughter Evelyn.
Contact the Nursing Assessment Team:
Phone: 431-451-1889
If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message in our confidential inbox and we will return your call within one business day.
Email: nat@recoveryofhope.ca
Fax: 204-453-7748
