PAPER #6: Collaborative Mental Health Care in Primary Health Care
Across Canada: A Policy Review
What is the current policy context in Canada and how does it impact collaborative mental health care?
The policy context is an important factor in determining whether collaborative mental health care arrangements are nurtured or inhibited. This research paper summarizes a review of mental health and primary health care policies and legislation in each province and territory. This paper includes a summary of relevant policies, organized by province and territory, and describes the opportunities and challenges each jurisdiction is facing with respect to the integration of mental health and primary health care policy.
Key Findings
- Emerging primary health care and mental health policy frameworks clearly support collaborative mental heath care. Progress has been made in reducing some of the long-standing legislative and regulatory barriers to collaborative mental health care.
- All provinces have either created or are creating some form of a local primary health care model that includes mental health. These models include primary health care organizations, community health centres, local primary care initiatives, family health teams and instances locales.
- While some progress has been made in integrating primary health care and mental health care policy frameworks, there are still opportunities to better coordinate these frameworks in most jurisdictions.
- Many provinces are undergoing major changes in strategy, with regional and provincial roles being redefined. Most provinces and territories have transferred responsibility for mental health services to the regional level.
- Compensation models and payment systems continue to inhibit interdisciplinary collaboration, as does the instability of funding for mental health services.
- Developing policies that support culturally appropriate and effective services for Aboriginal populations continues to challenge all jurisdictions in Canada.
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