The Access Point Northwest

Application Form


710 Victoria Ave. E, Thunder Bay, ON, P7C 5P7
Phone: (807) 624-3400
Fax: (807) 624-3525

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

Referral Process
Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program

The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) program provides individuals with publicly-funded, evidence-based, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and related approaches to help manage depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related conditions.:

  • Must be 18 years of age or older
Case Management Services

Case Management provides support to live in the community and appropriate services by a Case Manager. When referring to Case Management Services, the applicant must:

  • Must be 16 years of age or older
  • Have addiction and/or mental health concerns that seriously affect daily life
  • Live within the City of Thunder Bay when service is received
Supportive Housing Services

Supportive Housing provides support for persons with mental health and/or addictions concerns. This application form is NOT for non-mental health supported housing. To apply for non-mental health housing, please see the TBDSSAB website. When applying for Supportive Housing, the applicant must:

  • Must be 16 years of age or older
  • Be willing to live within the City of Thunder Bay when service is received
  • Be willing to accept some level of support from the housing provider
Chronic Pain Management Services

Chronic Pain Management provides interprofessional services to individuals experiencing on-going pain that interferes with daily life. When referring to the Chronic Pain Management Program, the applicant must:

  • Must be 16 years of age or older
  • Be referred by the primary care provider or willing to act as the most responsible provider (MRP) (Physician or Nurse Practitioner)
  • Be in a medically stable condition
Counselling and Group Services(Outpatient Mental Health Services)

Outpatient Mental Health provides services to individuals experiencing mental health issues. These programs offer education and treatment of mental health issues and effects. When referring to Outpatient Mental Health Services, the applicant must:

  • Be 16 years of age or older
  • Currently have a primary care provider (Doctor or Nurse Practitioner)
  • Attempt to use Shared Mental Health Care services first if with an applicable site
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation provides noninvasive brain stimulation to individuals experiencing treatment resistant depression. When referring to the this service, the applicant must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be referred by the primary care provider or someone willing to act as the most responsible provider (MRP) (Physician or Nurse Practitioner)
  • Be experiencing a major depressive episode that has not benefited from at least two antidepressant medication trials
  • Be in a medically stable condition
Diagnostic Assessment and Medication Review

Requests for diagnostic assessments will be seen by either Psychiatry or Psychology. Requests that require a medication review will be seen by Psychiatry. The applicant must:

  • Be 16 years of age or older.
  • Be referred by the primary care provider or willing to act as the most responsible provider (MRP) (Physician or Nurse Practitioner)
  • Attempt to use Shared Mental Health Care services first if with an applicable site
  • Not be accessing any other psychiatry or psychology services
  • Be residing in Thunder Bay
Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Services

Addictions and Concurrent Disorders provides services to individuals experiencing on-going addiction(s) that interferes with daily life. When referring to an Addictions Management Program, the applicant must:

  • Must be 12 years of age or older

To apply for this service please call 684-5100 and speak to an intake worker or see the Sister Margaret Smith Centre page for more information.

By applying to this service, you agree to the following criteria:
  • If approved for treatment, the rTMS psychiatrist will not be the MRP and will only be responsible for concerns related to rTMS treatment
  • Voluntary status (if they are an inpatient)
  • No history of seizures
  • No history of psychosurgery or deep brain stimulator
  • No history of brain injury with loss of consciousness of one hour or more
  • No severe Axis II diagnosis
  • Not pregnant
  • No active suicidal/homicidal ideation
  • No history of self-harm behavior in the last 6 months
  • No Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant medication taken currently or in the past four weeks
  • No metal head plates, cochlear implants or pacemakers
  • No Bupropion prescribed at a daily dose greater than 300 mg currently or in the past week
  • Have received continuation and maintenance convulsive therapy to prevent relapse and efforts to reduce or stop convulsive therapy have been unsuccessful
  • Had a good response to convulsive therapy and cannot tolerate or attend for continuation or maintenance convulsive therapy
  • Clients/patients receiving benzodiazepines should be on less than or equal to the equivalent of 2 mg of lorazepam per day
  • I am at high risk to myself, others, or at risk of self neglect.
  • I am actively suicidal AND have impaired coping skills and/or have engaged in significant suicidal behaviour in the past 6 months.
  • I am experiencing significant symptoms of mania or hypomania currently or within the past year.*
  • I am experiencing significant symptoms of psychotic disorder currently or within the past year.*
  • I have a severe or complex personality disorder that would impact my ability to participate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
  • I am requesting ONLY medication management.
  • I have moderate to severe impairment of cognitive function (e.g. Dementia or acquired brain injury) OR moderate/severe impairment due to a developmental or learning disability.
  • I currently have a problematic substance use or have had in the past three months that would impact my ability to participate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
  • I have a severe eating disorder that would impact my ability to actively participate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
*This does not include symptoms induced by medication or substance use
If any of the criteria above are applicable please list in the reason for referral section after continuing.

Declaration and Consent

Privacy Policy

Purpose for Collection and Use of Personal Health Information (PHI)

We collect, use, and disclose PHI only for the purposes of identifying the appropriate service needs as well as:

Privacy Officer

If there are any questions or concerns about privacy, please contact the program manager or our Privacy Officer with The Access Point Northwest at (807)-624-3400. If there are still concerns, please contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at 1400-2 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8, (416) 326-3333.