the mental wellness team pilot project an example of collaboration health and social services forum...
TRANSCRIPT
The Mental Wellness Team pilot projectAn example of collaboration
Health and Social Services Forum for the First Nations, QuebecJanuary 29, 2014
Context
Project funded by the National Anti-Drug Strategy
Project is the result of collaboration between FNIH, the FNQLHSSC and the MSSSQ
Two pilot communities
The pilot communities
Lac Simon
Kitcisakik
Population: 1500Located 32 km from Val-d’Or
Population: 450 Located 92 km from Val-d’Or
Phases of the pilot project
Planning phase Consultation among the local partners and
population Consultation among external partners
Implementation phase Implementation of the team Implementation of the MWT services
General mandate and roles of the mental wellness team
Strengthening wellness and autonomy among the pilot communities by implementing culturally-appropriate mental health prevention, promotion and intervention services while supporting existing programs and services.
Offering services to the population Providing clinical supervision, support and training
to the local resources Working in collaboration with the internal teams
and external partners
The mental wellness team
Interdisciplinary team (4 members):• Clinical advisor• Mental health worker• Social worker• Cultural worker
First Nations and mental health expertise
Action strategy Community development approach
1. Community mobilisation2. The cross-sector concerted approach3. Commitment on behalf of local and political leadership4. Individual, organisational and community empowerment
Services to be offered established according to the needs expressed by the communities and the external partners
Organisational structure
External partners(Public and community network)
Outer circle to inner circle:
FNQLHSSC – Health CanadaBand councils of Kitcisakik and Lac SimonLocal follow-up committeeKitcisakik and Lac Simon health directorsMental Wellness TeamCommunities of Kitcisakik and Lac SimonYouth, adults, Elders and families
Concerted actions
Ongoing improvement committee: Kitcisakik and Lac Simon health centres, CSSSVO, Valpabem, Normand Centre, MWT
Creation of a mental health consultation slip: allows for facilitating information exchanges when a community member consults the emergency services of the Val-d’Or hospital in a crisis situation
Nomination of liaison agents in the communities in order to establish linkages with the regional Abitibi-Témiscamingue child psychiatry services: facilitates service continuity when a child from the communities receives a referral for child psychiatry services
Concerted actions
Traditional cultural activities: Forest retreats, Sharing Circle, sweat lodge, etc.
Clinical inter-community networking: Tool exchanges, collaboration between workers, etc.
Training: Medicine wheel, mental health first aid, etc.
Upcoming concerted actionsAlternative justice committee in the community of
Kitcisakik
Working groups with the CSSSVO: Improving the services provided to Aboriginal people who access the Val-d’Or hospital emergency services
Formal mental health protocols – dependence between the communities and the Quebec network
Challenges encountered
Inter-community
Different service organizations
Constant evolution of the needs
Anishinabe cultural practices that are specific to each of the communities
Staff turnover
Challenges encountered
Cross-sector
Lack of knowledge regarding the Anishinabe culture among the off-reserve partners
Lack of knowledge regarding the structuring of the public network among the communities
Discriminatory prejudices on both sides
Language
Staff turnover
Possible solutions for successful collaboration
Maintaining a communication network among the communities and between the communities and the external partners
Liaison work through a liaison agent
Training on Aboriginal culture
Identification of contacts among each of the organisations
Signed formal collaborative agreements
Community standing from a regional perspective
Community member involvement in regional
events (Regional Forum on Mental Health, Symposium on Suicide Prevention, etc.)
Thank you!Have a nice day!
Annie DuciaumeMWT Clinical Advisor
Lac Simon and KitcisakikTel.: 819-736-2107Fax: 819-736-2299