Intensive Case Management is part of the Social integration measures. Although there are similarities between Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Intensive Case Management (ICM) programs, the services are delivered differently: ACT services are provided by an interdisciplinary team versus intensive case management services which are provided by a single case manager.

Intensive Case Management is intended for people with a serious mental illness, but for whom the functional disabilities and difficulties are less serious. In this case, the services offered target the development of individual skills and support. The caregiver offering this service is the «case manager» that provides rehabilitation and support and establishes a relationship based on trust and respect with the person receiving the service. The intensive case manager coordinates services, establishes links with the person being treated and ensures his presence even if he does not offer himself all the services needed by the person (PASM 2015-2020).

Intensive case management responds to consumers’ multiple and changing needs, and plays a pivotal role in coordinating required services from across the mental health system as well as other service systems (criminal justice, developmental services, and addictions).

Persons served by ICM

ICM is intended for people who are:

• In their late teens to their elderly years who have a severe and persistent mental illness causing symptoms and impairments that produce distress and major disability in adult functioning (e.g., employment, self-care, and social and interpersonal relationships).
• Diagnosed with a severe mental illness (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder) for which the primary diagnosis at the axis 1 of the DSM-IV (the first axis incorporates clinical disorders; the service thus extends beyond psychotic states. Severe and chronic anxiety disorders can benefit from ICM)
• Being faced with a serious mental disorder that is associated with disabilities related to:
  • Functional autonomy
  • Personal skills
  • Social skills
  • Community Living

ICM is intended for people who have:

• A significant risk of deterioration of their clinical or social condition in the absence of ICM
• Co-existing with the mental illness problems such as homelessness, substance abuse problems, or involvement with the judicial system

* These consumers represent 12.5% of the clients with a serious mental disorder in a population of 100 000 (250 people).

Documentation

Consult the documentation to have a list of all the clinical tools used by ICM teams in Quebec.

Counsellors

Brigitte Chassé, advisor ICM
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François Neveu, Ph.D., advisor ICM 
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