According to its mandate, Concurrent Disorder Support Service (CDSS) serves clients with mental health, substance use and other complex issues. Since clients are in service with referring workers, no clients are completely “unattached” from service.

In its first year of operation, CDSS did fulfill its mandate to serve persons, who had complex needs in addition to a concurrent disorder. Highlights are noted below.

• 73% of clients were male and 27% female. No one self-identified (on the referral form) in any other gender category.
• 35% of clients (the largest age group) were 35-44 and 19% (the second largest age group) were 45-54.
• 48% identified themselves as Canadian and 22% were dispersed among diverse backgrounds. (As the question was noted as optional, the remainder did not wish to respond.)
• At the time of referral, 35% were homeless or living in shelters, 40% were living in supported or subsidized housing, 15% lived in a private apartment or home and 10% were in an infirmary or hospital.
• 62% received social assistance and 21% had no formal source of income.
• Regarding mental health (may be more than one diagnosis), 21% had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 29% a bipolar disorder, 14% an anxiety disorder and 40% were considered clinically depressed.
• Although this number may be suspect because it depends on workers’ memory, a surprising number of clients had completed college or university.
• Among the top (often multiple) issues: 62% were homelessness or at risk of losing their housing, 51% had medical/ health/ physical disabilities and 37% were in current trouble with the law.