Access & Assessment Centre (AAC)

My experience with the AAC was wonderful. I arrived at 7:50 AM and was seen by 8:30 AM. Christine was the nurse I spoke to. She was kind, patient, and very understanding. She spent over an hour speaking with me and helping me understand my situation better. I felt incredibly cared for and heard.If possible, arrive early so you’re able to be seen quickly. I would recommend this place to anyone in a crisis.

Don’t come here if you are suicidal. They will give you the final push to end your life. I was told I have the skills to cope and will receive a follow up phone call. No use in a phone call if your dead.

Brought someone to this center three years ago. Mental health intake is very challenging and needs to be done differently. This center makes enormous sense. They had a psychiatric nurse available within 15 minutes. Was looking it up tonight to recommend it to a friend.

Please, if you value your one precious life, stay away from this place. I am so ashamed I referred others here through my volunteer work and that I trusted the staff here myself. I came in with post-viral insomnia & fatigue and found myself on 3 medications including an amphetamine after just 4 months seeing a psychiatrist here. The medications nearly killed me - literally - and the subsequent withdrawal (which I had to do with no support, at home with my family by my side) has left me hardly recognizable 2 years out. It is not in my nature to write anything disparaging about anyone, but for public safety I need to state here that the receptionist, ASTAT nurse and doctor I interacted with here should not be allowed to work with the public. I feel sorry for the good-hearted people who fund this institution, not knowing how much it is harming people who come in genuinely thinking they are doing the responsible thing for their health.

The AAC has had a hand in saving my life.TW: I felt suicidal and the counseling they've provided to me has helped anchor me. It's so nice to have a rapid access clinic for mental health emergencies so that I don't have to go to the emergency department at the hospital like what I used to have to do.A big thank you to all the employees that make this place possible!They have a first come, first serve basis clinic if you urgently need to speak to someone. Otherwise, if you call in, I believe you can make an appointment. Keep in mind when calling in that the phone lines can be very busy. But don't let that stop you. Keep trying and stay strong!

I was hesitant to go here because of all the negative reviews, but I’m so glad I did. It quite literally saved my life. I think a lot of the negative experiences might be due to not understanding what the A&A Centre is. What it is: a last resort, bandaid solution for mental health crises. What it is NOT: a long term solution, a doctor’s clinic, a counselling service. You cannot get meds prescribed here. You will initially be seen by a nurse or social worker who does a basic assessment (the ones I saw were actually very caring, kind and non-judgemental). If warranted they may sched a follow up appointment. They can provide info about various mental health & addiction services; but they do not provide those services in-house.If you are feeling like you are close to attempting, I would urge you to either call the suicide hotline, visit an ER or even call 911 before going here. The A&A Centre can’t provide any immediate or direct help, but they can be useful if you need someone to talk to / organize your thoughts / plan next steps.Only reason I gave 4/5 stars is because most of the front desk staff are mean, rude, impatient people who should not be working in healthcare. However the nurse, social worker and psychiatrist I saw were the complete opposite.

Terribly slow, do not go here in-person for anxiety it will make it worse. Security was useless, allowing smokers inside the doors and directly outside the building. People inside were fine, but if you have anxiety this is not the place for you. Better to just get a phone call.

I first attended AAC at the beginning of the summer 2022 as a walk in and later in the summer returned as a walk in. I understand the reviews where people have felt slighted or angry afterwards, I won't say that every single interaction I've had there has been amazing BUT I genuinely feel lucky to have been able to access the services and help I have.I had asked my family doctor to refer me to a psychiatrist and she told me in Canada it can take up to 18 months to be seen. I didn't have 18 months to wait and going to AAC really was my last ditch effort to ask for help. I had a friend who told me it was terrible and not to go there. I couldn't be happier that I didn't heed her. I've had repeat appointments with physiatrists, had safety calls from clinicians which were invaluable and was referred to outpatient therapy. Public health (especially mental health) is so under funded and under-resourced and so I couldn't feel more grateful to have been able to access what I know, for me, were life saving services.Update: I wish people leaving reviews telling people not to go here would consider how helpful that is. I feel so sorry for anyone who had a negative experience but a review containing all the negative things you experienced may be far more helpful without including don't go here". That simple statement could very well steer someone away from a service that may save their life. At least provide an alternative that you have found helpful."

Admitted myself after years of trying to elsewhere with no luck. I was lucky to meet someone who was able to prescribe me with proper medication here for my family doctor to help me with my mental health journey.

Do not go here for mental health help. It does not stay between you and the psychiatrist- it ends up on your permanent medical record that follows you for life. I was shocked when I went to emergency at st.Paul’s a week ago and the emergency room doctor told me I had OCD (in front of everyone waiting in the waiting room) - which I don’t and asked why he thinks that. He told me it is on record from the time I went to this center. Dr Asiago saw me for a half hour and diagnosed me and didn’t tell me and put it on my permanent record? I do not have any diagnosis and having had any mental health issues since. Also the reason I went to the access and assessment Center was also noted (I was having a rough heartbreak when I was younger). All these years later apparently any doctor that has ever seen me has had access to my personal information that I shared with a psychiatrist.