NewsToGo
OPDI NewsToGo issue #223 - June 12, 2009
1. OPDI AGM Friday June 19 (Toronto)
Please find enclosed a flyer on the upcoming AGM of the Ontario Peer Development Initiative.
2. Mental Health And Addictions Committee Hearings Summary
Courtesy of CAMH, we are able to bring up synopses of the legislative committee hearings into mental health and addictions. We have enclosed a summary of the June 3rd session for your information. You will able to read the entire proceedings using the available hyperlink below:
Select_Committee_summary_3June09.pdf
3. Ontario’s Health Minister In Controversy
Despite taking action to remove the head of e-Health after a controversy over consultants’ hiring, David Caplan continues to be in the hot seat according to widespread media accounts. The government’s response can be found here dated June 7th:
4. Mental Health Commission of Canada Peer Support Consultations
Please check out this attachment for a very important announcement of interest especially to those who have lived experience of the mental health system.
English_MHCC_Peer_Support_Project_Info_Sheet_May_09.pdf
5. EnAbling Change Project Seeks Trainers
We have attached an information sheet including an application form for those interested in helping the mental health and addictions community sector fulfill the requirements for meeting the customer service standard related to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
6. SEEI Final Report
Please find enclosed the final report of the Systems Enhancement Evaluation Initiative (SEEI).
The report provides a high level summary of the results of the SEEI, which was a four year initiative to evaluate the effects of the $167 million dollar government investment in Ontario’s community mental health system. Results show that the new funds have made a significant difference in a variety of ways and that Ontario’s community mental health system is moving in the right direction.
Some of the key messages that the report highlights and expands upon are as follows:
• Programs substantially increased the number of clients they were able to serve. However, the newly enhanced community mental health system still does not have the capacity to serve all those in need.
• Clients of newly-enhanced programs experienced a range of positive outcomes.
• New funds were used to innovate and develop more efficient and effective program-level services.
• System integration was expanded and improved when funds were targeted specifically towards integration activities.
• Matching the level of care that client’s need with the level they receive has improved. There are, however, still many people receiving less than recommended levels of care.
You can also visit the ehealthontario portal to download the report by clicking here.
7. Review of “Regulated Health Professions Act” by Law Firm
These changes may be of interest to stakeholders and service users as there are now changes to reporting requirements:
http://millerthomson.com/docs/Health_Communiqu__June_2_2009.PDF
8. CAMH Annual General Meeting—“From Neuron to Neighbourhood”: The Impact of CAMH’s Research Discoveries
Date: Thursday, June 18th, 2009
Time: 4 pm
Location: Workman Theatre, Administration Building, 1001 Queen Street West. Toronto
9. Mad Pride Week July 13 – 19, 2009 (Toronto)
This year’s list of activities is the most impressive yet. Check out the attached listing for full details.
Advance_detailed_listings_Mad_Pride_Week_Listings.pdf
10. Globe and Mail Article on Benefits of Jogging
The reader is introduced to a novel, inexpensive, and holistic approach to coping with mental health and addiction issues:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/taking-a-run-at-mental-health/article1169969/
11. Toronto Star Series on Mental Health
The Toronto Star featured a whole month of articles around this issue. It finished with a call in this editorial for a mental health and addictions strategy. We are enclosing both links for your information:
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/mindmood/mentalhealth
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/647021
12. David Simpson Calls In
Although this long-time advocate no longer calls the mental health field his workplace, he continues to take an extracurricular interest in such matters. Two examples of his letter-writing ability show up here covering the forensic health system and the use of tasers:
http://www.thestar.com/article/645839
For those who would like to reach him, try his e-mail:
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Thanks for reading!
The Staff of OPDI
NewsToGo is OPDI’s e-mail update providing timely and meaningful information to its stakeholders. The ideas expressed are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of OPDI. We welcome your submissions; please direct them to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Preference will be given to material which directly relates to OPDI member affiliates and issues of concern to consumer/survivors throughout Ontario. We reserve the right to edit the length and style of all materials submitted. The current and back issues of NewsToGo can be found at http://www.opdi.org.
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