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Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders

Family Program

The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre's Family Program was established in November 1980 as an extension of the Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders Program.

The Family Program grew out of the awareness that:

  • Treatment of a loved one with a substance abuse problem is most successful when their family members are involved in the process of recovery; and
  • Family members of a substance abuser require assistance in their own right to sort out the effects of their loved one's chemical dependency on their lives.

Goals of the Family Program

  • To provide education and information about substance use and concurrent disorders;
  • To help participants recognize and understand how they and their family members have been affected by substance use and concurrent disorders;
  • To encourage participants to identify their personal needs and formulate directions for the future;
  • To provide assistance for family members in regaining and maintaining their sense of well-being while offering opportunities to discuss their experiences and hear about others' experiences in a small group setting;
  • To provide assistance in identifying options and support available to them; and
  • To assist family members in identifying effective coping strategies in dealing with the addiction in the family.

Orientation Meetings
This is a general information session offered to all affected by a substance use problem: family, friends and the individual with the substance use problem.  The information session is held every second Wednesday, alternating between an afternoon session (2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) and an evening session (6:00 to 8:00 p.m.).  Please contact Orry Benhanoh at 613-722-6521 ext 6653.

We ask that you wait in the main lobby of the entrance to the hospital at the scheduled start time.  After you attend the information session, you will be contacted between a week to two weeks after the session to discuss your questions, concerns, or further interest if applicable in the Family Program groups.  Please call 613-722-6521 ext 6653 for further information, or to verify session dates.

Family Program
The Day Program runs for four consecutive days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The Program is composed of lectures, films, tapes, group therapy and other resources.  Within these four  days, two physicians and guest speakers offer information on concurrent disorders and substance use.

Once a participant has completed four days of the Family Program, there are five two-hour follow-up sessions, once a week in the afternoon.  Upon completion of the follow-up sessions, each participant discusses further needs or concerns in an individual session. Upon completion, individual, couple and family therapies are available.