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The mission of BC Mental Health and Addiction Services (BCMHAS) is to “promote and deliver accessible quality health services for all British Columbians through an integrated health system”. Central to this system are the functions of Research and Knowledge Exchange, whose guiding principles are:
- To complement existing research;
- To facilitate collaboration with other BC researchers and research centres focusing on mental health and addictions; and
- To emphasize knowledge exchange
Research
The goal of BCMHAS Research is to bring together and strengthen existing mental health and addictions research capacity, and to build and enhance partnerships with health authorities, universities, researchers and other individuals and agencies, within the province, nationally, and internationally. Areas of research include both basic and translational research, and fall within the four domains identified by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR):
- Biomedical
- Clinical
- Health Systems and Services
- Population and Public Health
Research occurs across all BCMHAS service provision areas: Adult Tertiary Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Services, Child and Youth Mental Health Services, and the Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program. Researchers, clinical staff, and physicians across BCMHAS are actively involved in research and education activities. These activities are intended to support advances in mental health and addictions services province-wide.
Knowledge Exchange
One of the values espoused by BCMHAS is “improvement through knowledge”. Knowledge Exchange (KE) is the key mechanism by which this value is realized. The primary goal of KE – to translate research into action – entails the strengthening of existing capacity for education and knowledge dissemination in order to enhance understanding and skills among our primary audiences. For the KE function of BCMHAS, these primary audiences are: decision makers, professionals & practitioners, and the public.
For decision makers, KE informs the development of policies that support both the implementation of best practices, and the planning and delivery of evidence-based services.
For professionals and practitioners, KE supports the development and maintenance of best practices by enhancing continuing education.
For the public, KE assures the effective sharing of evidence-based information, education, and awareness to clients, families, and the general public.
Ultimately, the KE function of BCMHAS aims to support the prevention and reduction of the incidence and impact of mental illness and substance abuse problems, and with the help of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information, to develop an integrated and comprehensive provincial public education strategy.
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Publications
The Provincial Suicide Clinical Framework
Antidepressant Skills at Work: Dealing with Mood Problems in the Workplace
Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START)
Toward Flourishing For All: Mental Health Promotion and Mental Illness Prevention |