What would make a difference to parenting and family wellness when mental illness and/or addiction is present? Health organizations in Richmond asked — and found out. [image: istockphoto]
In 2008, families in Richmond, B.C. with either parents with a mental illness or with loved ones with mental illness, were asked what they felt would make a difference to parenting and family wellness. Over 50 parents provided feedback which was used to develop a three-year plan for supporting families living with mental illness and/or addictions.
“I have a mental health worker…but no one has ever asked me if I have kids.”
Collaborative programs to support families affected by parental mental illness and/or addictions
From 2008 to the present, Richmond has served 120 families through a number of programs, which are jointly provided and facilitated by staff from Vancouver Coastal Health, Richmond Addiction Services and community agencies.
The community has told us that group activities that allow us to have fun and learn together, also helps best ensure the well-being of families dealing with mental health issues and substance use/misuse. Children and youth participating in these programs connect with others with whom they likely share similar experiences with. — Supporting Families, Richmond
Programs include the Building Resilient Kids Group, for 8 to 12 year olds and their parents and the Resilient Youth Group for 13 to 18 year olds. Family Fun Nights, which are held every second month, provide dinners, activities, and opportunities to socialize for entire families. Community Education Events are held three times a year, and facilitated support is available upon request to families that are trying to navigate mental health and child protection services.
Ongoing recreational services are also offered in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association (Vancouver-Burnaby) to children who have completed the Building Resilient Kids and Resilient Youth programs. The collaboration ensures that children and youth stay connected to peers and develop long-term friendships.
Presentation at the Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference in Calgary in June 2015
Benjamin Wong, a counsellor with Richmond Addiction Services Society, speaks at the Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference on June 19, 2015
Benjamin Wong is a counsellor with Richmond Addiction Services Society — which participates in the Richmond Supporting Families project. Benjamin shared the experiences of his organization and the community in a presentation titled “Listening to Families: Building Collaborative Programs” at the Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference in Calgary on June 19, 2015.
People First Radio was at the conference and this week we share the presentation by Benjamin Wong.
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audio | Benjamin Wong @RASShelps in Calgary @2015_CCMHCC #mentalhealth #ccmhcc https://t.co/GyRQZywCYP pic.twitter.com/KGBGLpYSGm
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) October 30, 2015
More about the collaborative mental health care conference
The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference is the leading national conference focused on research and innovations in collaborative mental health care and addictions service delivery within primary care. The program will feature presentations in five topic streams: innovation, prevention, measurement-based care, mental health initiatives in the Patient’s Medical Home (PMH) and systems integration.
A collaborative approach between mental health providers and primary care ultimately improves access and outcomes for patients and helps address efficient use of resources. The conference has the potential to impact the delivery of primary and community-based care, the design of services and the composition of health care teams, research into mental health and addictions, advocacy efforts, public policy and the overall approach to mental health and addictions within the health care system.
The 2015 conference was held in Calgary, Alberta from June 18th to 20th. The 2016 conference takes place from June 16th to 18th in Kelowna, B.C.
