Using Ontario’s Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) Tool in Community Mental Health

The HEIA Tool was developed by MOHLTC with a goal of reducing avoidable health disparities between different populations in Ontario.  The HEIA is a decision support tool that enables users to consider how a program, policy or other initiative will positively or negatively impact on different population groups.  By using the tool, organizations can reduce negative impacts that could widen inequities between different population groups.

For more information about the tool, visit the MOHLTC HEIA website.

This webinar offers training in:

• Health equity and what equity means in mental health
• Why HEIA is important for health service delivery, program planning and policy development
• How to conduct an HEIA, with an example from the community mental health sector

Anyone working in the mental health sector, especially the community mental health sector is encouraged to participate.

Presenters are:

• Sheela Subramanian, CMHA Ontario
• Nila Sinnatamby, MOHLTC
• Andrea Bodkin, Health Nexus
• Alexandra Lamoureux, CMHA Toronto

Use the links below to view specific sections of the webinar.

Webinar Part 1: Introduction and Background

• Welcome and introductions (0:00)
• Today’s goals and agenda (2:18)
• What is health equity? (4:16)
• Understanding equity in mental health (13:48)

Webinar Part 2: How to use the HEIA Tool in Community Mental Health

• About Health Equity Impact Assessments (HEIA) (26:48)
• How to use the MOHLTC HEIA: The 5 steps (32:41)
• Case Study: CMHA Toronto’s Smoke Stoppers program (52:00)
• Final Tips: Adding a Mental Health Lens & Ensuring Success (1:06:35)
• Participant Q & A (1:14:45)

Supplementary materials are also available:

• Webinar slides (PDF)
• Resource list to support use of the HEIA Tool (PDF)

For more information, please contact Sheela Subramanian at ssubramanian@ontario.cmha.ca or (416) 977-5580 x4157.