Yesterday, Minister of Health and Social Services Philippe Couillard made public his 2005-2010 Action Plan on Mental Health. This plan defines how Quebec mental health care and services will be organized from this point forward in order to best serve people of all ages. For the first time, the MSSS proposes a comprehensive plan that acknowledges the complexities involved in treating people with mental illness. We are pleased and fully support the Minister in this endeavor.

For the Douglas Hospital, known for its renowned mental health expertise in second-(specialized) and third-line (superspecialized) services, this action plan is timely.

The statistics speak for themselves: 20 percent of Quebecers will suffer from mental health problems during the course of their lives. Quebec has the highest suicide rate in the country and one of the highest in the world. The stigma associated with mental illness is profound, and keeps many people with psychiatric problems from requesting the help they so badly need. This plan marks a turning point. Finally, mental health—just like physical health—is being recognized as indispensable to the well-being of our communities.

First line to play bigger role in mental health services
We view this as an opportunity to make first-line care more accessible to communities. The plan clearly indicates that the new local Health and Social Service Centres have the mandate to provide first-line care, in keeping with the needs of the population they serve. As a psychiatric hospital, the Douglas Hospital is called upon to work closely with the local centres to ensure an effective flow between first-, second- and third-line services and to ensure ongoing training of first-line staff.

We also see this as an opportunity to refocus our attention on our primary mission: to provide specialized and superspecialized care. In the past, we provided first-line services because of a dearth of such services elsewhere in the system. Now we can, as we should, refocus on the most vulnerable patients.

Clarification of third-line programs
The plan is clear in its definition of superspecialized programs, which are offered exclusively in university teaching hospitals such as the Douglas Hospital. Amongst the programs mentioned are those dealing with personality disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders, eating disorders and psychotic disorders (like PEPP-Montréal). We have proven expertise in these areas, thanks to the quality of our staff, care, and our research and teaching initiatives. We look forward to continuing this work in conjunction with our university teaching hospital partners.

The plan focuses on the social reintegration of patients into the community, including employment support services and housing. Its recognition of the need for reintegration is, in itself, a major breakthrough. This will bring about a reorganization of housing resources—a responsibility that will be shared with the local centres.

However, the plan raises questions about the transfer of financial resources (15-25 percent of the budgets of psychiatric hospitals) and human resources towards first-line services over the next five years. It is vital that the services, and the clients who benefit from these services, are redirected to the local centres, since they will now have the financial and human resources. Past experience has shown that this has not always been the case.We are aware that there are costs involved in transferring knowledge to the local centre staff who will take on these responsibilities. These costs will most likely be assumed by the psychiatric hospitals. For this reason, we ask the MHSS to examine ways to lighten the financial burden this represents.

All in all, this plan is an immense step forward. The Douglas Hospital is committed to play a constructive and collaborative role in order to ensure its implementation. We are enthusiastic in light of these proposed improvements, and, above all, are optimistic that they will improve the well-being of our communities.
 

Information

Florence Meney
Media Relation
Communications and public affairs
Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell.: 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca