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The following is a project that Jessie's Hope has been working on the last 8 months with the various mental health agencies and Mental Health and Addictions Branch. Based on our work with the House of Mirrors Project, Jessie's Hope has taken leadership around the Community Asset and Mobilization aspect of the plan, but we will have direct input into all aspects of the information generated and the processes used to develop that information. As you can imagine the work is challenging, but exciting!
Jessie's Hope believes that this process and its products will be a great asset for the treatment and prevention of disordered eating/eating disorders in BC. Not only will we broaden our contact base and link with the mental health community at large, we will be producing evidence-based information that will be congruent for both consumers/family members and health care practitioners. This collaboration will also go a long way to ensuring that the concurrent disorder issues will be dealt with in a more comprehensive manner. The following information is has been excerpted from the Kaiser Foundation's Website, as it is the most concise explanation on the project.
The Ministry of Health Services has brought together a coalition of agencies who are currently engaged in information management in the mental health and addictions fields. We have embarked on various exciting information projects that will unfold over the next 3 years.
In addition to Jessie's Hope Society, the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information are:
 www.heretohelp.bc.ca
Anxiety Disorders Association of BC (ADABC) - www.anxietybc.com
British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) - www.bcss.org
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Div (CMHA-BC) - www.cmha-bc.org
Kaiser Foundation - www.kaiserfoundation.ca
Mood Disorders Association of BC (MDA) - www.mdabc.net
The F.O.R.C.E.- Families Organized for Recognition and Care Equality - www.bckidsmentalhealth.org
The information plan is part of a broader agenda of reform for the mental health and addictions system whose goals include:
· applying evidence based health promotion and prevention initiatives within mental health and addictions; developing a continuum of care that is accessible, evidence based, and recovery oriented; ensuring that high quality evidence based information is accessible to people who experience mental health or substance use problems, their families, service providers, and communities.
Through several interrelated projects undertaken by the partner agencies, the information plan will support these goals. Different projects are concerned with producing information for different target groups. Through these projects, the information plan aims to:
· promote greater understanding of mental disorders and addictions among the general public;
· improve the ability of people experiencing mental health or substance use problems to cope, by providing easy access to self-management tools and other supports for them, their families, and their communities;
· increase awareness of mental health and substance use problems among health and other professionals, by educating them on the disorders and providing the screening tools necessary for early detection;
· improve the ability of all people to recognize early stages of mental health and substance use problems, in order to facilitate early intervention.
In order to achieve these aims, there are various projects underway such as developing a range of diagnostic tools, self-management tools, information on various issues, supports for families and communities, and mechanisms to disseminate the information - (Community Asset/Mobilization). The focus is on high quality evidence based information, and the development of an information infrastructure that can be evaluated, and that is sustainable over time.
The plan also aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and substance use problems, and to improve the ability of affected people to self-manage, while improving access to all available supports. The Ministry is seeking the active involvement of consumers of mental health and addictions services in order to ensure that the system is congruent with their needs.
An important feature of the information plan for mental health and addictions services is that it is part of a comprehensive approach to health promotion. The information provided through this process does not focus solely on mental health and addictions issues, but also on other factors that impact people with mental health or substance use problems, such as personal health practices, coping skills, and social support networks. Considerable research demonstrates the effectiveness of these factors in minimizing the negative consequences of mental health and substance use problems. This represents a shift from treating clients as passive recipients of services, to individuals who are actively involved in the management of their disorders.
Policy and Practice Implications
Information and education are critical for prevention and early intervention for mental health and substance use problems. Information strategies should be developed in consultation with all stakeholder groups, including mental health and addictions service providers, consumers, their families, and communities.
Personal health practices, coping skills, and social support networks have a substantial effect in minimizing the negative consequences of mental health and substance use problems. These factors should be taken into account when developing and delivering mental health and addictions services. |
