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Publications
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Diversity initiatives at CAMH: CAMH Annual Report 2004
CAMH Annual Report
In addition to the diversity profiles demonstrating our work within CAMH and across the province, we present a few examples
of diversity projects and initiatives in four areas of our organization: care, health promotion/prevention, research and employee
education.
Care focus
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The Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers Access Project, a three-year joint initiative with five ethnocultural groups, which
ensured equitable access to high-quality addiction and mental health services at CAMH. Plans include expansion to other communities,
now that the original project has been completed. Our psychiatry and addiction programs have integrated recommendations from
the project into their everyday work and have hired diversity consultants to provide leadership, support and expertise.
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An organizational change project with Hong Fook Mental Health Association, St. Michael's Hospital and the Chinese Canadian
National Council, starting with staff diversity training. This is an innovative change model for community-based organizations.
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CAMH's Spiritual and Religious Care Services, which welcomes and celebrates all faiths and is staffed by spiritual caregivers
who are trained professionals.
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A partnership with Chinese Family Services, for the joint provision of methadone treatment for Cantonese-speaking clients.
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The Interdisciplinary Plan of Client Care, which is just being implemented across CAMH, and will deal with cultural competence
and diversity as a component of care.
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The Supportive Housing and Diversity Group, a Toronto-based multi-agency partnership to improve housing stability, which targets
people from diverse ethnoracial/ethnocultural groups who have addiction or mental health issues.
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The Disability Working Group, with representation from CAMH staff, members of the client/consumer/survivor community and the
community at large, which has been working to promote universal and inclusive access to existing and future CAMH facilities.
A study is currently underway to determine the barriers to universal access in existing CAMH facilities. The results of this
study will be used to develop the CAMH Accessibility Plan, a requirement for all public facilities, under the Ontarians with
Disabilities Act.
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Aboriginal Services partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (an agency that provides cultural and social services to Aboriginals
residing in Toronto), for substance use and mental health issues.
Health promotion/prevention focus
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The Healthy Aging Initiatives and Older Adults Working group, which promotes awareness of older adult issues, both within
communities and at CAMH.
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The recently published booklet Women, Abuse and Trauma Therapy: An Information Guide for Women and Their Families.
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Research focus
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Completion of the pilot study, "Perceived racist discrimination and its relation to depression and anxiety in Canadians of
African descent."
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The initiation of a study to examine the important issue of postpartum depression
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Provincial project underway of "Best practices in community education on addiction and mental health with ethnocultural communities,"
whose primary objective is to identify best practices in community education and knowledge exchange initiatives to effectively
address the addiction and mental health needs of ethnoracial/cultural communities.
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Completion of the pilot study "The incidence of depression in traditional vs. non-traditional Muslims and related variables."
Employee education
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Completion of introductory diversity training for most CAMH staff, and follow-up training for staff involved in clinical work,
staff involved in managing diversity, and those who work with communities.
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The creation of a Diversity Champions team, composed of staff at all sites and regions who provide leadership and support
on diversity issues.
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CAMH representation in the Diversity Health Practitioners' Network, in which health care representatives implement diversity
initiatives.
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Centre for Addiction
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