There are two ongoing North Shore Division projects pertaining to Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU).
Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative
North Shore Community Action Team
Aim: Increase the number of children, youth, and their families seeking and receiving timely access to integrated, MHSU services and supports.
Physician Chair: Dr Hayley Broker
Project Coordinator: Susan Thack
For children and their families in BC who are experiencing mental health and/or substance use issues, navigating the system of care is often fragmented, confusing, and uncoordinated. In the aim of improving access to integrated mental health and substance use services and supports, the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use (CYMHSU) Collaborative started in the Interior in June 2013 and has spread across the province. The North Shore Local Action Team (LAT) was established in June 2015, consisting of over 20 members representing youth and families, physicians, Vancouver Coastal Health, Ministry of Children and Family Development, municipalities, school districts, First Nations, police and various community agencies.
The North Shore LAT's achievements so far include: implementation of a mental health literacy program Mental Health and High School Curriculum in secondary schools; offering a number of cultural safety/competency training opportunities; and testing and promoting community resources such as the North Shore Youth Services Directory and Connect for Kids.
Although the provincial CYMHSU Collaborative concluded in December 2017, on the North Shore, the LAT continues to work together to improve CYMHSU services and supports in the community as the North Shore Community Action Team.
Mental Health and Substance Use
Aim: Provide the best in MHSU services by optimizing the relationship between primary care providers and Vancouver Coastal Health MHSU services
Physician Lead: Dr Eric Sigmund
Project Manager: Kate O'Donnell
The MHSU working group is a partnership between the North Shore Division of Family Practice and Vancouver Coastal Health MHSU services. In 2015-2016, the working group used A GP for Me funding to host an education series to help family physicians care for patients with MHSU conditions. The working group oversees the CYMHSU Collaborative and the GP/Psychiatry working group, and facilitates the removal of barriers when needed.
GP/Psychiatry
Aim: Increase access to psychiatric services, support GPs in treatment of psychiatric conditions and to reduce waitlists by providing community-based psychiatric assessment and consultation services.
The North Shore Division of Family Practice and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) collaborated to establish the Psychiatric Consultation Clinic, which has been operating since 2012. In 2017, the GP/Psychiatry working group began a new project to improve communication and coordination between GPs and VCH's MHSU services. For further information, please click here.