Using specific selection criteria will ensure the people who need this type of help the most will be served by the program, the minister said. The major target population is persons with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder or severe affective disorder, and those who have had several psychotic episodes or psychiatric ward hospital stays. A PACT clinical team typically includes a team leader, a psychiatrist and a multi-disciplinary group of professionals that may include social workers, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, vocational rehabilitation specialists and substance abuse specialists. Services to individuals are provided at a ratio of 10 clients to one staff. Additional staff may include paraprofessional mental health workers.
Services can be highly individualized and, most importantly, they are continuous and long- term.
This helps to keep people out of hospitals and in the community where they live and work. Full implementation of the program in Winnipeg should be in place within five to six months, with immediate benefits to individuals and their families.