The current reorganization of mental health services is no small affair. It brings sweeping changes to Quebec’s healthcare system and will affect each and every one of us. At the Douglas, it particularly affects the care providers and patients of our out-patient clinics. To provide the latest information on the reorganization, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute joined with its CSSS partners to host meetings on the Mental Health Action Plan (MHAP) on June 17 and 18.

These meetings, led by Jean-Bernard Trudeau, MD, David Bloom, MD, Amparo Garcia, Louise Laurier (CSSS Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle) and Madeleine Breton (CSSS Sud-Ouest–Verdun) were greatly appreciated by the 150 people in attendance. They were able to receive information and ask questions on the changes that will soon take place.

“I was pleased to see the meetings were well-attended. It’s vital that patients understand the reform, so we can work together to build a better network—one that promotes recovery for people with mental illness, notes Amparo Garcia, clinical-administrative director of the Douglas Clinical, Knowledge Transfer and Teaching Activities Directorate.

“It is essential to work with members of the general community, and with patients and their families, explains Madeleine Breton, director of program development for Public Health and Partnerships Programs for CSSS South-West–Verdun. “ This reform will change the way they receive healthcare and we understand that this may cause concerns. These meetings allowed to us to hear their views and to do everything possible to ensure they are well-served.”

Better Access, Better Care

The Douglas Institute and its partners, CSSS Sud-Ouest–Verdun and CSSS Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle, are working together to implement the Mental Health Action Plan (MHAP), proposed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

One of the major features of the MHAP is the reorganization of access to 1st-line services and care to ensure that patients are served in their own community. From now on, people of all ages suffering from a mental health problem will be able to receive 1st-line services and care, either from professional teams in the Health and Social Services Centres (CSSSs) or from a general practitioner. Once their mental health status has been evaluated, they will continue to benefit from 1st-line services or will, if needed, be directed towards more specialized services.

In order to serve new mental health clients effectively, each CSSS will expand its teams of mental health professionals. Where will these professionals come from? Some will come from the Douglas. In fact, 50 Douglas professionals will be transferred to CSSS partners to help form new multidisciplinary 1st-line mental health teams.

What will happen to patients currently receiving care at the Douglas?

Several patients who are currently being treated by the Douglas present stable profiles and do not require the care and services of a highly specialized (2nd- or 3rd-line) mental health institution. The clinical teams at the Douglas are presently identifying these patients and arranging for their continued care to be assured by a team of 1st-line professionals or by a general practitioner. Once this has been done, the patients will be advised of their transfer by their Douglas clinical treatment team. The transfers will take place in 2009.