The Council for Access to Mental Health Support
"A collaborative approach for improved care"
An initiative led by Family Enrichment and Counselling Service in collaboration with: Chimo-Help Line, Canadian Mental Health Association NB, Capital Region Mental Health and Addictions Association, Horizon Mental Health and Addiction Services and private practioners.
While Family Enrichment strives to see clients within 8 days, wait times to access some mental health services in the Greater Fredericton Area can be 12+ months, which is far too long for individuals who are struggling with mental illness. Long wait times can be dangerous and add anxiety to the lives of those already experiencing difficulties.
The mission of the council is to provide better access to appropriate, timely and client-centered Mental Health Services in the Greater Fredericton Area. Our vision is to maintain a healthy community where every person has equitable access to timely, appropriate and client-centered mental health care.
Part of implementing our vision and mission begins with establishing a baseline of mental health service availability, and wait times in the Greater Fredericton Area. Once a baseline is set, we can examine where improvements are required, and where gaps in service need to be filled. This is a huge task that we can’t undertake on our own; we need your help. By filling out the survey, you are helping us create a starting point for improvements that must be made in the mental health field.
Each year, 1.6 million Canadians report unmet mental health needs. Unfortunately, up to 80% of Canadians rely on their family physician to meet these needs, but the services are limited (CMHA National, 2018). Meeting the mental health needs of Canadians is possible, but it will require the right services, at the right time.
Community based mental health services are an integral part of meeting the mental health needs of Canadians. Many individuals in the health care system aren’t properly matched with the services they need, leading to longer wait times all around (CMHA National, 2018). By including prevention, early intervention, health promotion, and follow up into mental health care, rather than just focusing on the intensive, complex issues, the mental health needs of more Canadians can be met effectively.
This is why the Council for Access to Mental Health Support, a collaborative approach to improved care, wants to implement its mission and vision. There is a need for a more client centered, standardized mental health care system. We believe collaboration between service providers, stakeholders, and citizens is the key to successfully meeting the mental health needs of Fredericton citizens, and reducing wait times for mental health services.
When Frustration Reaches Its Limit...
The Origin of Council for Access to Mental Health Support
How It Began
Objectives of that meeting:
• What is being offered?
• What could be improved?
• Define gaps and duplicates
• Explore benefits of collaboration
• Family Enrichment & Counselling Service (Leentje Deleuil)
• Chimo Helpline (Lisa O’Blenis)
• CRMHAA (Lisa Edwards)
• CMHA NB (Kristen Barnes)
• Horizon Addictions & Mental Health Services (Kelly Sterling)
• Private Practitioners (Rice Fuller)
Creation of Terms of Reference.
CAMHS is the recipient of Rosemary's Legacy Grant through the Fredericton Community Foundation (FCF) to partially fund the program coordinator position.
Rebranding with Susan Mesheau.
Defining vision, mission, and values.
Approval of our new name; Council for Access to Mental Health Support.
Suggestions were made for a slogan.
Approval of surveys and other baseline materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for your interest and support of the Council for Access to Mental Health Support’s mission and vision. Below you can find answers to some of our frequently asked questions.
We look forward to hearing from you.
February 17th, 2020, 11:59pm.
10 – 15 minutes.
To determine the average wait times for mental health related services, service availability, your experience and opinion regarding mental health related services.
You can contact the Program Coordinator, Alex Mackie, at ptw@familyenrichment.ca
In order to facilitate client-centered, comprehensive, and easy to access mental health services, we need to collaborate! By providing us with this information, we are one step closer to a standardized mental health care system, which benefits clients, and service providers! Together we can get rid of the silos.