Established in 1999, The Rivage is a housing and guidance service aiming to keep men aged 18 to 55 in the community who have severe and persistent mental health issues. These problems have been diagnosed by competent medical entities. The Rivage strives to break the continuous cycle of these men between the hospital and the street.
The Rivage’s mission is to promote the integration and participation of these men from a civic perspective. Individualized follow-ups, facilitating access to resources, are offered while respecting the individual’s needs. The focus is on demystifying mental health, reclaiming personal power, and housing support.
Clientele Characteristics
The clientele concerned are men with mental health problems. For them, Le Rivage is an option that enables them to remain stable outside the hospital environment.
The Rivage’s clientele has several key characteristics:
Men who are disaffiliated, often without a network or resources
Those who have experienced multiple hospitalizations
Those suffering from substance-related disorders
Those in need of support for their autonomy
Admission
Admission to The Rivage requires a referral from a hospital center or another community institution, provided the individual benefits from external follow-up.
The Intervention Team
A team of psychosocial workers closely collaborates with specialized mental health care teams.
Approaches Recommended at The Rivage
The systemic approach is favored at The Rivage, promoting multidisciplinary work with the resident’s team, their family, and all systems contributing to their well-being. The Rivage promotes self-esteem, individual skill development, while encouraging collective and transformative social action. The recovery approach is also advocated, emphasizing residents’ strengths rather than their limitations.
Our Goals
The Rivage has a dual objective: to help men maintain their health stability and to encourage them to meet their needs. The Rivage team ensures that residents maintain and develop their autonomy while improving their personal situation at their own pace.
Our Services
Individual follow-ups (weekly interviews, crisis management, participation in daily activities, medication, budget, and tax management assistance)
Assistance within the medical and judicial system
Voluntary involvement program (cleaning, cooking).
Activities
Weekly activities
Spirituality classes (voluntary)
Music classes (individual, group, animation for The Centre Booth’s Christmas meal)
Art therapy
Walk
Table games
Bingo
Outings with workers to discuss, value residents, strengthen bonds.
Occasional Activities
Sport celebrations: Superbowl and hockey nights, in The Rivage’s TV room
Visits to the Insectarium, Planetarium, and Biodome.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Sugar shack outings
Park outings for badminton and picnics
BBQs
Theater outings
Ecozoo
Summer excursions to the Old Port
Art exhibitions: showcasing paintings, photos, drawings, and poems made by the residents.
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These activities are organized based on the residents’ preferences and interests. We prioritize interactions through daily exchanges between the staff and residents within their living environment, incorporating internal activities such as residents’ birthdays, movie nights, as well as other external activities.
