Today marks the culmination of 120 days of hard work, launching the new services outlined in the provincial mental health action plan. Yesterday, Health Minister Terry Lake joined VCH and Providence Health Care staff at St. Paul’s Hospital to recognize the improved care for patients with severe addiction and/or mental illness.

What have we accomplished in 120 days?

Here is what we have accomplished through the mental health action plan:

New Acute Behavioural Stabilization Unit

The opening of the nine-bed Acute Behavioural Stabilization Unit – part of the emergency department at St. Paul’s Hospital – was celebrated yesterday by Minister Lake. Read more about the ABSU in the Ministry of Health’s announcement.

New Assertive Outreach Team

Health care professionals and police officers have formed a new Assertive Outreach Team to serve individuals in the Downtown Eastside. It’s the first of its kind in BC, likely Canada. The team ensures clients are connected quickly to the community-based services they need after release from hospital. Read more about the AOT in VCH News.

Two Assertive Community Treatment Teams

We added two ACT teams, bringing our total number of teams to five. In collaboration with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and BC Housing, ACT teams bring health care and life-skills support to clients — all of whom have complex presentations, often struggle to maintain stable housing, and are challenged with their ongoing mental health and substance use concerns. The teams assertively engage with these individuals to help them maintain housing and medical care, leading to a significant decrease in connections with the criminal justice system and better health outcomes. The teams have been working with clients since the end of February.

Information-sharing protocols between agency partners

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the VPD, VCH and PHC to support the sharing of information for the care, response, service and treatment of those with mental illness, and to assess and mitigate the risk of harm to anyone’s health or safety. The agreement applies when police apprehend a person under the Mental Health Act.

Inner City Youth Team

The Inner City Youth team (an expansion of the former Inner City Youth Mental Health Team) serves youth aged 16-24 who are homeless or marginally housed, and suffering from mental illness and/or addiction. ICY is creating a new Intensive Case Management team to expand services to younger, at-risk youth. The program is planning to be housed in a new walk-in clinic space located in the Downtown Eastside – targeted to open later in 2014. The program begins accepting referrals today.

Housing

We are continuing to strengthen our partnership with BC Housing — a key element of care for complex populations is stable housing. BC Housing has committed to supporting the new ACT teams with housing subsidies and units for their clients. It has also committed to supporting youth attached to the Inner City Youth team with housing. Knowing they have a safe and supported living environment is critical to helping this young adult population re-engage in school and work.

Thank you

Leaders and staff of our mental health and addiction teams — along with our partners in Lower Mainland Facilities, BC Housing and the City of Vancouver — have done an incredible amount of work to move us toward a system that is integrated, innovative and assertive in engaging this complex population. On behalf of our clients who are vulnerable, and often marginalized, thank you for your commitment and compassion to deliver these new services.