Café Scientifique: Sharing Best Strategies for Inclusion of Mental Health Patients and Families in Research

Date

2024

Authors

Chiem, Karen

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Victoria

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a global increase in mental illness, affecting 1 in 8 people, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address systemic inequities in mental health service access, interdisciplinary collaborations with People With Lived and Living Experiences (PWLLE) are essential. Strategies like Strategies for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) are crucial for inclusive mental health support. A Café Scientifique event was conducted, hosted by the Health Services and Systems Research Cluster at the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), University of Victoria (UVic), funded in part by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), featured panel speakers from Vancouver Island who shared experiences and perspectives with SPOR. This event aimed to foster dialogue, provide insights, and identify areas for enhancing mental health systems and services. Research attains depth and relevance by prioritizing the perspectives of both patients and their families, and recognizing the expertise of PWLLE. This approach contributes to advancing more effective and equitable mental health services, fostering a patient-centred approach that tailors interventions to individual needs, thereby promoting impactful and compassionate mental health care.

Description

Keywords

mental health services and support, mental health resources, patients, families, strategies for patient-orientated research, SPOR

Citation