Note from the editor

CrossCurrents

Patient/client-centred care has become an espoused rule for 21st-century health care. But this philosophy is sometimes honoured more in rhetoric than in practice. Patient/client-centred care is not simply providing care that the service provider thinks is good for the client. It means empowering the client and sharing power in the care relationship. According to the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations, patient/client-centred care encompasses cultural sensitivity, making services user-friendly, helping clients navigate the system, involving family members in care, being flexible with treatment options and empowering clients to be active participants in care. This issue of CrossCurrents presents the voices of clients, patients and consumers, as well as their family members, so that service providers can learn from their unique perspectives and ultimately build strong partnerships with clients.

The diversity of individual experiences of the mental health and addiction system is represented by an array of thought-provoking stories in this issue. Bob Ramsay and Howard Fluxgold each discuss the role of social support - Ramsay from the perspective of an individual who struggled with addiction, and Fluxgold from the perspective of a family member. An anonymous story poignantly portrays the experience of a sibling - a family member whose experience is often overlooked when a brother or sister develops mental health or substance use issues.

Michael Armstrong eloquently describes the psychotic delusions he has experienced intermittently over the last three decades, and the impact they have had on him. I reflect on my brief experience in crisis care, based on the health records I accessed from my stay.

Patient/client-centred care means listening to what clients want, including respecting their perspectives on the language used to describe and address them. This issue includes a collage of three perspectives on terms like "consumer/survivor." Next, Caroline Fei-Yeng Kwok draws from her personal experience to provide recommendations for culturally competent care. Kate Kitchen discusses research that examines what clients want from therapy. Finally, the Q&A column describes a client-driven project that addresses the needs of people with severe mental health issues in terms of developing and maintaining intimate relationships.

Enjoy reading these diverse perspectives. We'd also like to hear from you. Let us know how we are doing. Or write a letter to the editor expressing your thoughts on our stories.

Hema Zbogar
tel 416 595-6714
hema_zbogar@camh.net

• Print