Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 10/31/2024

Grassy Narrows Mental Health Services (“we,” “us,” “our”) is committed to safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of our community members. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal information and is designed to provide transparency and build trust in our commitment to culturally sensitive and secure mental health care.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information to provide you with quality mental health services. The types of information we collect include:

• Contact Information: Name, address, phone number, and email for communication and appointment scheduling.
• Health and Service Information: Medical history, mental health information, and session notes, collected with your consent to offer effective care.
• Usage Data: Information about your interactions with our website, telehealth services, or digital forms to enhance our services.

We only collect information necessary to provide you with mental health care and protect your safety.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To offer counseling, crisis intervention, and other mental health services.
• Communication: To contact you regarding appointments, program updates, and relevant resources.
• Service Improvement: To assess and improve our services while respecting cultural values and community needs.
• Legal Compliance: To fulfill legal requirements, such as mandatory reporting in cases of harm or risk of harm.

We will always seek your explicit consent for any use of your information beyond the scope outlined above.

3. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Your personal information is kept confidential. We do not share your information without your consent, except in the following limited circumstances:

• With Your Consent: If you consent to sharing your information with another healthcare provider, we will facilitate that process as requested.
• Legal Obligations: If we are required by law to report certain information (e.g., when there is risk of harm to yourself or others), we will do so in accordance with legal requirements.
• Service Providers: We may share limited information with third-party providers who assist us with telehealth or administrative tasks, but only under strict confidentiality agreements.

We follow all relevant privacy laws to ensure that your information is handled responsibly and confidentially.

4. Telehealth Privacy

Our telehealth services provide a secure and convenient way to access mental health support remotely. To protect your privacy:

• Secure Connection: All telehealth sessions are conducted via secure, encrypted platforms to ensure confidentiality.
• Private Environment: We ask that you participate in telehealth sessions in a private, secure location to help maintain the confidentiality of the session.

If you need assistance with setting up a secure telehealth session, please contact us for support.

5. Data Security

We implement strong security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Data Encryption: All digital information is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.
• Access Controls: Only authorized personnel have access to your information, strictly limited to what is necessary for providing care.
• Electronic Records: We use secure electronic record-keeping systems with regular audits to maintain confidentiality and integrity.

We are committed to protecting your information and regularly review our security practices.

6. Accessing and Updating Your Information

You have the right to access and update your personal information. To request access or make changes, please contact us by phone or email. We will provide a copy of your records or make corrections promptly, in accordance with applicable laws.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. When your information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it in a way that respects your privacy.

8. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies to enhance user experience. Cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, allowing us to improve its content and functionality. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

We use website analytics tools to gather non-personal information, such as website traffic and usage patterns, to help us better understand our community’s needs. This information is anonymized and does not identify individual users.

9. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Any updates will be posted on our website, and we encourage you to review this policy periodically.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you would like to exercise your rights to access or update your information, please contact us:

Grassy Narrows Mental Health Services
Grassy Narrows First Nation, Kenora District, Ontario
Phone: +1 (844) 550-3789
Email: info@gnmhs.ca

Your privacy and trust are important to us. We are here to support you with respectful, confidential, and culturally grounded mental health services.

Last Updated: 10/31/2024