CMHA branches are participating in a survey that will allow them to better understand the current landscape of care coordination and integration between primary health care and the community mental health and addictions sectors throughout the province. The survey is led by the Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Advisory Council. Primary care providers in Ontario play an important role in managing mental health and addictions within a broader system of community, hospital and specialized services. Individuals living with a mental health condition or an addiction turn to their primary care providers for assessments, care, advice and referrals to other health care services, depending on their individual needs. However, little is known about how primary care services work with the broader mental health and addictions system, the capacity of the primary care sector to provide mental health and addictions care to clients, or the ability of primary care providers to leverage existing mental health and addictions resources that can enhance the quality of care for their clients.
This is why the Primary Care and Mental Health and Addictions Task Group was formed by the Council with the purpose of creating system change recommendations that will address challenges and build on innovative solutions to better coordinate services between the primary care and mental health and addictions sectors throughout the province.
To complete the Primary Care and Mental Health and Additions survey for community mental health and addictions agencies, please click here. For Primary Care Providers looking to contribute to the survey, please click here. The deadline for completing the survey is September 9, 2016.
CMHA branches across the province will have the opportunity through the Council’s survey to highlight the innovative and successful models of care delivery that address both mental and physical health needs of their clients. In many CMHAs in Ontario, primary care is provided to clients through branch services or partnerships with the primary care sector. To see examples of how CMHA is addressing primary health care needs with their clients throughout the province, please click here to read the CMHA Ontario response to Patients First: A Proposal to Strengthen Patient Centered Care in Ontario.