May 2-8 is Mental Health Week in Canada, a week where we reflect on the advances in mental health, spread awareness about mental illness, and share stories of recovery.
Here in Ottawa, progress is being made. This week it was announced this that The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), will dramatically cut lengthy wait times and improve service under a new program. The Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA), which has been used to great success in the UK and Nova Scotia, focuses on a less formal approach to assessment, based on problem-solving while offering choices to patients. Under this new model, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and counsellors work as one clinical team. It is expected that current wait times of up to nine months, will be drastically cut, to a maximum of six weeks.
CHEO to dramatically cut wait times for mental health services #ottnews https://t.co/EIGHfmZUPC pic.twitter.com/iCUEnBe9y3
— Ottawa Citizen (@OttawaCitizen) May 4, 2016
Our friends at the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa, with the help of Great Big Sea’s Sean McCann, are marking this week by raising awareness and continuing the ongoing discussion around mental health issues.
On a national level, this year also marks the 65th anniversary of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week campaign and their theme for this year is Get Loud, prompting everyone to talk openly about mental health, mental illness and to combat the stigma that lingers. The response on Twitter has been tremendous, with many organizations and community leaders voicing their support.
ICYMI | OPH & Natn’l Partners Release:#MentalHealth Caregiver Guide for Caregivers #GETLOUD https://t.co/J6tjvmWFy3 pic.twitter.com/2EX9HTSqdf
— Ottawa Public Health (@ottawahealth) May 5, 2016
It’s Mental Health Week. I am proud to #Getloud & wear green to promote awareness in Canada. pic.twitter.com/YrNZYLOzRe
— Catherine McKenna (@cathmckenna) May 3, 2016
Want to celebrate Mental Health Week with us? Toolkit containing tips to #GETLOUD. https://t.co/auAr9J8kgn pic.twitter.com/YbxqDOJA5A
— CMHA_AB (@CMHA_AB) April 26, 2016
This week is Mental Health week. #Getloud, talk about it and break the stigma.https://t.co/OsQynC0XO9 #MWH2016
— Kent Hehr (@kenthehr) May 5, 2016
Our team at Cappelli & Associates are committed to providing effective mental health care, and to improve accessibility of mental health services for all young people. We welcome CHEO’s new approach in treating mental health and salute the YSB’s tireless efforts to improve the lives of those within our community who are facing challenges every day.