Local community services centre (CLSC)

The mission of local community services centres (CLSCs) is to provide routine, front-line health and social services to the people of the territory they serve. They also handle public health activities. Territorial establishments ensure that people who need such services for themselves or their loved ones are contacted, that their needs are assessed, and that the required services are provided at their facilities or in the people’s living environment, i.e., at school, at work, or at home. Where necessary, they will ensure that these people are referred to the services best suited to their needs.

In addition to physical health services for Quebecers, CLSCs offer general services that include clinical activities and assistance with specific social problems. When someone has symptoms or a mental disorder, they can receive mental health services at any CLSC.

Find a CSLC
 

The services that CLSCs provide differ by service location. They include:

• Routine health services: consultation with a nurse, blood sample collection, vaccinations, contraception, emergency oral contraception, etc.
• Front-line health services: consultation with a physician, consultation with a primary care nurse practitioner or other member of the interprofessional team, with or without an appointment
• General social services: intake, analysis, guidance, and referral (AAOR) services—the CLSCs’ gateway for social and psychological requests; 24/7 crisis response team; psychosocial intervention in the context of civil security; and social and psychological consultation for specific difficulties
• Mental health services: a multidisciplinary team that may include specialized mental health nurse practitioners or physicians, who provide assessments and work with adults and youth with mental health symptoms or disorders. No medical referral or diagnosis is required to receive mental health services at a CLSC
• Rehabilitation and reintegration services
• Public health activities: follow-up for people with chronic diseases, STI screening and prevention, etc.

Go to the page Finding a CLSC to see the facilities available in your area, the services they offer, and their hours.

To obtain mental health services, you can go, without an appointment, to the psychosocial reception desk at your CLSC or call Info-Social at 811, option 2.

Furthermore, a process to improve access to mental health services in CLSCs is underway in all regions of Québec to direct people to the right service, offered by healthcare professionals with the right expertise, including those from psychiatric teams, when required.

See the list of CLSCs offering improved access to mental health services