As of March 21, 2025, MGH鈥檚 main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
Meet Noah. He鈥檚 a member of Compass: an Assertive Community Treatment team (ACTT) that provides community mental health outreach in partnership with Michael 九游体育鈥檚 mental health services.
Compass is a multi-disciplinary team made up of nurses, occupational therapist, a social worker, community support counsellors, a peer support worker and a psychiatrist.
Noah is a community counsellor who provides support and medication treatment to adults with mental health challenges. He shares some of the unique services Compass provides for clients in the community 鈥� and how his team continues to provide crucial care despite the challenges COVID-19 presents.
鈥淎s an assertive community treatment (ACT) team, we see approximately 80 clients in the community, seven days a week. Much of what we do is involves safely overseeing and administering medication, but we also organize group outings and events, and one-on-one activities with clients. Things like going for a walk, or going for coffee, to help take some of the focus off just providing medication.
Since the pandemic began, we鈥檝e had to suspend those groups and had to limit our interaction with clients. But people still need to be seen, they still need their medication and appointments with a psychiatrist, so it鈥檚 still business as usual, just in a different way. We now wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) and have to limit how often we see clients.
It鈥檚 tough because for a lot of our clients, coming into our office for group sessions was a huge part of their day and their lives 鈥� and now they鈥檙e missing that human connection. But we still make sure we see every single person. Our clients are still getting attention and care 鈥� but we鈥檙e missing being able to provide the extra social, leisure and vocational activities that round out the medication piece. That鈥檚 what really helps our clients find fulfillment and meaning in their community.
I think one of the biggest things we miss as team members is our daily face-to-face staff meeting. We have such a phenomenal team bond; we all work together cohesively and get along so well. We miss that group dynamic and the opportunity to share successes and challenges and make sure everyone鈥檚 on the same page. That special kind of interaction is something can鈥檛 be replicated virtually. I honestly can鈥檛 wait to have a staff meeting again!鈥�