WHEREAS many rural communities are suffering from diminished resources to adequately support citizens with mental health issues; AND WHEREAS properly caring for those patients results in local police, ambulance or related health care providers spending time to transport those patients to receive care, which often takes hours away from the community and leaves those communities vulnerable: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the provincial government to restore adequate support services for citizens with mental health illness in all communities, in order to relieve the stress on those agencies that now have shouldered the additional burden.
Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health Ministry spends over 1.3 billion annually to support services and programs for people with mental health andor substance use problems. This equates to an increase of more than 52 percent over the 200001 total of 851.4 million. The Ministrys strategic direction includes implementation of Integrated Primary and Community Care IPCC. This goal is built around attachment to a family physician working with the health care team, as well as links to local community services to more effectively meet the needs of those with mental health and substance use problems. A number of activities support this strategic direction. - The health authorities and the Ministry have partnered in implementing 31 Integrated Health Networks that provide multidisciplinary care for patients with complex chronic health care needs, including those with mental health problems. Members of these health care networks include a variable mixture of nurses, medical office assistants, dieticians, social workers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, rehabilitator assistants, and case managers. Networks include local family physicians to provide for the more complex care needs of the identified patients. - Improved access to primary care physicians for individuals with mental health and substance use problems: - In 200910 there were 4,683 family physicians who provided care to people with mental health andor substance use problems, an increase from 4,362 in 200405; - Implementation of physicians incentives to develop care plans for their patients with mental health problems; and - Development and implementation of training modules for physicians on youth and adult mental health and substance use; as of July 2011, 1,238 physicians have been trained. - Shared Care approaches have been developed in many parts of the province wherein mental health clinicians provide support and consultation to general practitioners GPs to care for their patients with mental health problems. Shared care models allow GPs to manage cases of higher complexity than they would normally be comfortable handling and achieve better patient outcomes. - Development of multidisciplinary, community and outreach-based services e.g. Assertive Community Treatment ACT teams which work with people with severe mental illness directly in the community. - Development of community beds for people with mental health problems are typically provided through three types of housing programs: community residential care, family care homes, and supported housing. The number of these beds has increased from 8,662 in March 2010, to 8,794 in September 2010. - A variety of Health Literacy initiatives and programs such as Canadian Mental Health Associations Bounce Back program, are geared towards preventing the development of mental health problems for vulnerable populations across the province. There have been 10,600 physician referrals to Bounce Back since its launch in June 2008. On November 1, 2010, the Ministry released Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A 10-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in BC the Plan. The Plan, which can be found on the Ministrys website at: www.health.gov.bc.calibrarypublicationsyear2010healthymindshealthypeopl… focuses on promoting positive mental health for all British Columbians, preventing potential mental health and substance use problems before they occur, and intervening earlier to address emerging problems. It advances a cross-governmental, multi sector and multi-system approach, and places a strong emphasis on the needs of children and families. What is exciting about this Plan is there are priorities and actions focused on people at all ages and targeted at where they live, play and work - from the prenatal stage when high risk expectant mothers need extra support in their home to seniors with mental illnesses in facilities who deserve high quality care at the end of their lives. The Plan addresses the unique needs of specific groups of people within the population, and understands the needs of individuals change across their lifespan. It also recognizes the need for an integrated approach to both mental health and substance use, and acknowledges that access to appropriate treatment and supports increases the likelihood of recovery. - Examples of key targets identified in the Plan that will enhance the quality of community-based care include: - Enhanced availability and capacity of community practitioners; - Focussing on evidence-based therapeutic interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and self management support programs; - Expanded, integrated use of tele-mental health services particularly geared towards enhanced access in rural communities; and - Implementation of community, evidence-based interventions, such as: -- Early Psychosis Intervention: Provincial standards to provide earlier interventions for individuals having a first episode of psychosis. -- ACT: Provincial standards have been established including adaptations for rural communities to treat individuals with the most severe forms of mental illness in the community. Over the last three years, eight ACT teams have been established in BC.