MENTAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES WORKING TOGETHER : THE CANADIAN

COLLABORATION BETWEEN FAMILY MEDICINE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES : PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

N. Kates, M. Craven
Hamilton HSO Mental Health and Nutrition Program and McMaster University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

We discuss the challenges Canada faces in the delivery of mental health services to diverse and often isolated communities and the key role family physicians play in managing mental health problems in almost every Canadian community. Moreover, we review problems that can arise in the relationship between mental health and primary care services. We examine the consequences of these problems and the significant changes that have taken place over the last seven years to strengthen the working relationship between the two areas. The presentation discusses the Canadian concept of shared mental health care and provides examples of innovative projects that have implemented these principles and addressed significant problems facing the Canadian Health Care system.

SHARED MENTAL HEALTH CARE : THE CANADIAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION AND COLLEGE OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF CANADA COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

M. Craven, N. Kates
Hamilton HSO Mental Health and Nutrition Program and Mcmaster University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

We describe a major initiative of the Canadian Psychiatric Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada to improve collaboration between the two specialties. In 1997 the two organisations produced a joint position paper on shared mental health care and then set up a working group to implement its recommendations. This presentation summarises the recommendations of the position paper and the major activities and impact of the collaborative working group on clinicians, health planners and funders. It highlights the importance of the strong support both sponsoring bodies have vided.

THE COLLABORATIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROJECT : DEVELOPING A NATIONAL STRATEGY

N. Kates, M. Craven
Hamilton HSO Mental Health and Nutrition Program and McMaster University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

We describe a two year project, recently funded by the Canadian Federal Ministry of Health as part of the renewal of primary health care in Canada, to develop a national strategy for collaborative mental health care. The project is sponsored by twelve national organizations representing psychiatrists, family physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, dietetians, psychiatric nurses, consumers, family members and community advocacy groups. Its goals are to identify and analyze the current state of collaborative care in Canada ; to develop a joint declaration committing partner organizations and their members to working together to develop and disseminate strategies for implementing shared care and adapting it to the needs of particular communities or populations. The activities and expected outcomes of the project will be described.