Individuals experiencing mental health issues can often have difficulty accessing high-quality primary care. They may not have a family doctor and they may find it difficult to attend appointments which require sitting in a busy waiting room. Stigma, poor education and lack of information sometimes also means that primary care providers do not have the appropriate tools to support individuals with mental health issues.
To respond to this system challenge, CAMH has released a Mental Health and Primary Care Policy Framework. The framework uses a social justice lens to give an overview of the factors contributing to primary care access in Ontario. The Framework also provides a model for the development and implementation of policies in primary care that can effectively address the needs of individuals with mental health issues. The hope is that this Framework will encourage the convergence of research and practice on mental health and primary care policy issues across the system.
The paper outlines six principles for a comprehensive Ontario approach to mental health and primary care. Note that in this paper, the term “people with mental health problems and illnesses” refers to a wide spectrum of individuals—from those who are experiencing emotional distress to those with a diagnosis of serious mental illness. It also includes problematic substance use and addictions. The principles include:
1. Primary health care should be equitable and accessible to people with mental health problems and illnesses
2. Mental health care should be a core component of primary care
3.Primary care practitioners should be knowledgeable and confident in providing high-quality health care to people with mental health problems and illnesses
4. High-quality primary care should be provided to people with mental health problems and illnesses in collaborative and integrated environments
5. The primary care system should be accountable to people with mental health problems and illnesses
6. Primary care policies and programs should be based on evidence and best practice, and research in the area should be supported
For more information, read the CAMH Blog and the full Mental Health and Primary Care Policy Framework.