DDCC Access Portal
Durham Region’s Dual Diagnosis Collaborative Clinic
Supporting Mental Health for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the Durham Region
The Durham Dual Diagnosis Collaborative Clinic provides a single access point for individuals with intellectual disabilities to gain timely access to specialized mental health assessments and support.
Program Details
What can the DDCC provide?
✅ Clinical Mental Health Assessment: A comprehensive, interdisciplinary BioPsychoSocial assessment to explore or identify root causes of symptoms.
✅ Treatment Recommendations: Individualized recommendations to support target concerns including: mental wellness, symptom relief, may include recommendations for medication changes or adjustments.
✅ Evidence-Based Strategies: Strategies for environmental and/or behavioural adaptations to improve quality of life.
✅ Resources: Connections to necessary community resources and specialized support services.
Who provides my mental health assessment?
This mental health clinic is a partnership between Lake Ridge Community Support Services, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Community Networks of Specialized Care - Central East and Lakeridge Health Oshawa. Our clinic utilizes an interdisciplinary team of experts to ensure a holistic approach. The team includes:
✔ Psychiatrist
✔ Registered Nurse Clinician
✔ Registered Behaviour Analyst
✔ Senior Behaviour Technician
✔ Complex Support Clinical Coordinator
✔ Specialized Transition Clinical Consultant
What happens in a Specialized Mental Health Assessment?
Assessments are provided in-person, lasting approximately 90 minutes. Following the assessment, the team provides a formal consultation report to the individual, their caregivers, and their primary care provider to ensure coordinated support.
Who is eligible to access the DDCC?
Adults & Youth (16+ years of age) living with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability (IDD).
Residing in the Durham Region
Referrals outside Durham but from within the Central East Region (Haliburton/Kawartha/Pine Ridge, York/Simcoe) areas will be considered.
Individuals with suspected or diagnosed mental health concerns, such as mood disorders, anxiety, or trauma-related issues.
People with complex needs who require an interdisciplinary team approach.
Individuals concerned about their medication profile, including polypharmacy, or those currently without a psychiatrist.
Important: Applicants must have a valid Ontario Health Card and a primary care provider (Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner) willing to implement treatment recommendations.
*Note the clinic team specializes in working with adults.
How do I access the Durham Dual Diagnosis Collaborative Clinic Support?
Eligible participants are required to complete intake forms and submit them via this webpage. To request a referral, please follow these steps:
1. Download Forms: Download the Referral and Consent to Share PHI forms available on this page.
Complete Forms: Referrals are not valid without completed forms.
Collect Information: Gather supplemental information, such as previous behavioural assessments, medical records, psychological reports, and current medication history.
2. Submit Completed Forms: Upload completed forms securely using the submission link below.
3. Application Review: Once submitted, your referral will be reviewed monthly by our Clinic Team.
4. Scheduled Assessment: If selected, you will be scheduled for an in-person assessment at our clinic.
Submit a Referral
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STEP 1) DOWNLOAD FORMS
Step 1) Download referral forms. Complete all forms. Then come back, and submit them through the final intake form in Step 2.
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STEP 2) SUBMIT YOUR REFERRAL
Complete the online intake form and consent form(s), and upload your forms from Step 1 ensuring all downloadable forms have been filled in and uploaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our clinic provides specialized assessment and consultative support for older youth and adults with IDD who are experiencing mental health concerns. You can access our services by completing the intake referral and consent to share PHI forms found on this page and submitting them for monthly review.
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The Durham Dual Diagnosis Collaborative Clinic (DDCC) offers a one time in-person psychiatric assessment specifically for individuals with complex concerns and IDD who require an interdisciplinary team approach. Our team includes a Psychiatrist, Registered Nurse Clinician, Registered Behaviour Analyst, Senior Behaviour Technician, Complex Support Clinical Coordinator, and a Specialized Transition Clinical Consultant.
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If there are concerns regarding current medications and/or polypharmacy, our clinic can provide a medication review as part of our BioPsychoSocial assessment. Our goal is to provide suggestions for symptom relief, which may include recommendations for medication adjustments. NO prescriptions will be provided during the assessment; the prescribing responsibility will remain with your primary care provider.
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We utilize a BioPsychoSocial approach to ensure a holistic view of the individual.
Bio (medical): We help diagnose or rule out mental health issues, medical issues, and review the profile of prescribed medications.
Psycho (logical): We identify skill deficits, emotional challenges, coping skills, and mood patterns.
Social/Environmental: We evaluate the environment, living situation, and life stressors.
Note: Will not be able to provide assessment for a new diagnoses, such as, neurodevelopmental (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Learning Disability, etc.) or neurocognitive diagnoses (e.g. Dementia, Brain Injuries), third-party requests.
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Our primary population is DSO eligible youth and adults with IDD who have complex needs. We accept referrals for individuals who have suspected or diagnosed mental health concerns, those who need a psychiatric assessment, and individuals who are not currently connected to a psychiatrist.
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To ensure we can provide the best care, the following are required:
A valid Ontario Health Card for the psychiatrist consultation.
A primary care provider (GP or Nurse Practitioner) who is willing to collaborate with our team and consider recommendations regarding medication.
Completed intake referral and consent to share PHI forms.
If connected to a Psychiatrist and a second opinion is being sought, the referral must come from the primary psychiatrist.
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While only the intake forms are required to start, providing supplemental information is very helpful for our team. This may include: recent blood work (within 6 months), behavioural assessments or treatment plans, previous medical or psychological assessments, information about your current support team, sleep study results or sleep data, speech language assessment. and a detailed medication history.
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New referrals are reviewed monthly by our Clinic Team. If appropriate, you will be scheduled for an in-person assessment, which typically lasts about 90 minutes. Following the assessment, we provide a formal consultation report to the individual, their caregivers, and the primary care provider to implement recommendations and to ensure coordinated support.
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We place both forms in a compressed or “zipped” folder so they can easily be downloaded from one button.
You can unzip files easily on Windows, Mac, or Chromebook by using built-in tools. Right-click or double-click the zipped folder and select the option to extract or open the files.
Windows
Double-click the zipped folder to view what is inside.
Click Extract All at the top of the window.
Choose a destination folder for your files.
Click Extract to finish.
Mac
Double-click the zipped file.
The Mac automatically creates a new folder with the unzipped files in the same location.
Open the new folder to see your items.
Chromebook
Double-click the zip file to open it like a folder.
Select all the files inside.
Copy the files.
Go to My Files or Downloads and paste them where you want them.