As we near the end of this year, I want to share how far we’ve come since launching our strategic plan. Together, we have started to advance key priorities to create meaningful change across Ontario’s mental health landscape. Below is a snapshot of the progress we’ve made, each achievement representing a step forward in improving the lives of those we serve:
We contributed our insights and initiated this expert-panel discussion on TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paikin to bring expertise to a high-profile discussion on forensic mental health care. This was a great opportunity to educate viewers about our forensic mental health care system, to humanize the individuals who are in its care, discuss the role of specialty psychiatric hospitals and the importance of hospital-community partnerships to support people with complex needs.
We set a clear vision for the future, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and collaboration. Our three-year strategic plan will enable us to continue to offer our collective support and specialized clinical and innovation expertise and infrastructure to support the Government of Ontario in building a comprehensive mental health and substance use system of care for people across the province.
We convened researchers, partners and thought leaders to identify research priorities across MHP organizations to drive collective impact as part of MHP's first-ever research retreat. Suicide reduction/prevention was selected as an initial research priority for MHP.
We improved our digital presence to better engage communities, share resources and demonstrate cross-sector collaboration and leadership.
We celebrated our first Queen’s Park Day since expanding to include all nine Divested Provincial Psychiatric Hospitals. We put a spotlight on our forensic mental health care system, earning recognition in the legislature multiple times.
The MHP Research Committee has convened a working group to launch a Quality Improvement initiative to reduce and ultimately, help prevent suicide. The Working Group's vision is to create a shared data infrastructure to enable larger-scale research, fast knowledge sharing and the co-development of best practice amongst hospitals to prevent and reduce suicide.
We showcased how the Suicide Reduction/Prevention Working Group is taking a multi-centric approach to understand the gaps and to better inform intervention across the province at the Association of General Hospital Psychiatric Services' Annual Leadership Summit.
We are strengthening our partnerships to ensure seamless, coordinated care for people who come into contact with the justice system.
We advocated for funding and policy changes that support system improvements and better client outcomes in MHP's first-ever pre-budget submission.
We are collaborating with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario and the John Howard Society of Ontario to support the Ministry of the Solicitor General in implementing systems-related recommendations from inquests.
We have been more present and proactive in discussions with government officials, including the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, at CEO Council meetings.
You can learn more about these accomplishments and our ongoing work at www.mentalhealthpartners.ca. None of this progress would have been possible without your leadership, guidance and shared vision.
Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to building on these successes in the year ahead.