Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT)

Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) is a program offered to adults and young adults with severe mental illness. It aims to help them recover, integrate into the community and increase their autonomy. The services and intensity of treatment are adapted to the needs of each person.

The FACT interdisciplinary team, which is made up of a diverse stakeholders (nurse, social worker, specialized educator, psychoeducator, occupational therapist), goes directly to the person’s living environment and to his or her community.

The FACT is mainly deployed in regions with 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants. There are more than 15 teams in Quebec and new teams are being deployed to meet all needs in the targeted areas.

The Flexible Assertive Community Treatment program is part of the range of mental health care and services provided by the health and social services network.

The program is mainly for adults with a mental disorder associated with social, integration, organization or adaptation difficulties in the living environment and the community.

The FACT program is generally for people:

• 18 years of age and older, but it can also provide a smooth transition between youth and adult services;
• who have a serious mental disorder, mainly with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or mood disorder (bipolar disorders or refractory depression);
• with a high need for services, requiring the support of a caseworker in various areas of their life (e.g. finances, social network, housing, etc.).

FACT services can also be offered to people with a severe anxiety disorder or a personality disorder that does not require specialized therapeutic services. They will be offered if these people need support through essential psychosocial rehabilitation activities to achieve greater autonomy.

FACT offers services based on recovery, psychosocial rehabilitation, medical treatment management and integration in the community. The treatment is needs based: individual treatment for people with more stable symptoms and treatment by an interdisciplinary team for people who need more intensive care and services.

The services and interventions are varied. They aim to:

• ensure residential housing stability;
• develop skills for daily and domestic living activities;
• stabilize symptoms of the illness;
• prevent and monitor medical conditions related to physical health;
• minimize the impact of substance use disorders;
• prevent situations that are dangerous to the person or others;
• realize a life project that requires psychosocial rehabilitation (e.g. integrate independent housing, return to work or school, etc.);
• develop a significant and supportive social network;
• resolve a psychosocial crisis;
• resolve conflicts with the law.

An intervention plan is proposed in collaboration with the person to respect the person’s choices and preferences. Program stakeholders also offer support to the person’s family and social circle, while respecting the confidentiality rules.

To access the FACT, you do not need a medical consultation. You can discuss it with a doctor or a psychosocial worker. You can also contact the FACT team in your area directly. If you do not have the contact information, speak with the psychosocial reception at your CLSC or at Info-Social 811. They will put you in touch with the people who can respond to your request.