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Fixing mental health care
The Federal government acknowledges Canada’s mental health care system needs to work better.
Douglas College’s Dr. John Higenbottam is one of those dedicated to ensure it does.
The chair of Douglas College’s psychology department, Higenbottam joins a national team working for the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). Formed in 2007, the MHCC is charged with the big jobs of revamping mental heath care services across the country and improving public awareness to alleviate stigmas linked to mental illness. One-in-five Canadians is expected to experience some level of mental illness in their lifetime.
“I’m very excited to be involved in this project. The committee has the ability to bring some major changes to Canada in the field of mental health,” says Higenbottam who joined the MHCC’s advisory committee reviewing how Service Systems can be improved.
“There are major challenges presented by fragmented, inaccessible services which often have little demonstrated effectiveness in supporting recovery. In the Downtown Eastside, for example, we see the consequences of not providing adequate support and services.”
Higenbottam speaks from extensive experience. A clinical psychologist, he has served in senior administrative positions at Riverview Hospital and the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre. One of the major priorities for Higenbottam’s team is developing new strategies for housing people with mental illness. As such, he was pleased when the government earmarked $110 million in February for research to help the homeless living with mental illness.
“Things are already up and running. An early priority for our advisory committee is a national mental health housing strategy and that’s important, because without housing you don’t have anything.”
Another priority for Higenbottam is the creation of more specialized teams to work with those at the highest risk.
“There is a great need for integrated mental health and substance abuse services, including follow up provided by Assertive Community Treatment Teams,” says Higenbottam. “The teams work intensively with very small numbers of clients. It seems expensive but it’s very cost effective because it keeps people out of emergency-care situations.”
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