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OSOT Responds to Mental Health & Addictions Strategy Discussion Paper

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

OSOT Advocates an OT Perspective in our Response to Provincial Mental Health & Addictions Strategy Discussion Paper

 

In early October, OSOT submitted to then Minister of Health & Long-Term Care, David Caplan, a response to Every Door is the Right Door, the discussion paper on the development of a 10 year mental health and addictions strategy for Ontario. 

 

View OSOT's submission to the public discussion on this report. 

View the discussion paper and consider how you can contribute to the request for public response.  Public feedback continues to be solicited. Enusre that your expertise is heard and that OT perspectives are fully represented as the strategy evolves! Further to their consultation the Advisory Group will issue a report to the Minister in January 2010.

The Advisory Group is proposing a model in which;

• people enter the system at different points and move quickly to the services that best meet their needs
• people move easily between services and settings, stepping up or down in service intensity, support, according to their needs
• different organizations and settings can provide functions that cross intensities of services
• setting can also develop speicial programs to address the unique needs of different communities

The proposed model includes;

• universal mental health promotion and mental illness and addiction prevention services for all Ontarians
• targeted prevention services that directly address the risk factors for mental illness and addictions
• health promotion and prevention services for people with mental illness alone, addictions alone, and integrated mental illness and addictions, and for people with emerging problems
• treatment services for people with mental illnesses, addictions, co-occurring disorders and dual diagnoses
• appropriate services and supports for people living with mental illness and/or addiction problems and their families/friends
• ongoing monitoring and services to prevent relapse or recurrence

The proposed approach focuses on 7 areas;

1. Act Early
2. Meet People on Their Terms
3. Transform the System
4. Strengthen the Mental Health and Addictions Workforce
5. Stop Stigma
6. Create Healthy Communities
7. Build Community Resilience

Thanks to OSOT’s Mental Health Sector Team who spearheaded OSOT’s contributions!

 

Help OSOT position occupational therapy within

Ontario’s new Mental Health & Addictions Strategy!