Mental Health and Addiction Services and Policy Investigative Team

2005 HSPRSN Investigative Team Award

To provide evidence to support and improve the integration of primary mental health care service delivery with specialist mental health services and community interventions and supports, including the development of integrated addiction and mental health services.

Profile and Purpose

The mission and focus of this investigative team is the development and application of new knowledge to improve mental health and addictions services and policy in BC and Canada. A series of initiatives are planned within three broad themes:

Integrating the Network of Services and Supports for Mental Health and Addictions. Research is planned to further inform the integration of primary mental health services with specialist mental health services and community intervention and supports. Possible activities include:

• A study of the outcomes, at the population level, of integrated primary mental health care on the treatment of depressive disorder and problematic alcohol use.
• A synthesis of ‘Best Practices’ in preventive strategies in the fields of addiction and mental disorder for use in guiding the health system toward optimal preventive programs.

Enhancing the Mental Health and Addictions Response System. Research is planned to improve understanding of current practices and outcomes, and possible projects include:

• Using BC’s Pharmanet data to examine patterns and trends in drug therapy for depressive disorders, schizophrenia and heroin dependence for comparison with ‘Best Practices’ as determined a systematic review of the literature and clinical guidelines.
• Preliminary work on developing a community-based intervention strategy for suicide prevention among First Nations youth.

Extending Mental Health and Addictions Response System beyond “formal services and treatments” to include more community and family supports. Research in this theme may include:

• ‘Development of Best Practice’ guidelines to assist family physicians to better assess and manage disability associated with MH&A both in the workplace and in schools.
• Undertaking a literature review of supported housing for people with MH&A problems to synthesis the predominant issues in preparation for expanded research program in supported housing.

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