1. Policy informed practice: public health involvement in mental health promotion in BC
Population Mental Health and Wellness Promotion Forum
March 1, 2018
Stephen Smith, A/Executive Director
Healthy Living and Health Promotion Branch
BC Ministry of Health

2. Declaration of real or potential conflicts of interest
Presenter: Stephen Smith I have no real or potential conflict of interest related to the material that is being presented today.
Ce webinaire est accrédité par l'École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal. De ce fait, je dois déclarer mes conflits d’intérêt.

3. Two Examples
Core Public Health Program – Mental Health Promotion and Prevention of Mental Disorders
Healthy Minds, Healthy People: a Ten-year plan to address mental health and substance use in British Columbia

4. Core Public Health Programs in BC
Fell within one of four broad categories:
Health improvement programs
Disease, injury and disability prevention programs
Environmental health programs
Health emergency management programs
Were defined and advanced within 21 core program papers and corresponding evidence reviews
Papers developed by BC Health Authorities and Ministry of Health

5. Mental Health Promotion and Prevention of Mental Disorders
Released in 2009
Built on two extensive evidence reviews
Defined the agreed-upon components of a model core program in this domain
Engaged system stakeholders in public health and MHSU

6. Major Program Components
Mental health promotion (for all ages)
Mental health promotion/mental disorders prevention across the lifecourse
Reduction of discrimination and stigma
Surveillance, monitoring and program evaluation

7. Approach to Implementation
Address all the core programs (can cluster them together for planning and implementation in any means that works)
Develop a performance improvement plan for each program or cluster of programs that contains the following components:
Planning context
Baseline needs assessment / gap analysis
Performance targets and justification if no change is indicated
Key strategies, including initiatives, resources, etc.
Reporting process
Make the plan public and provide public progress reports

8. Cross-Government MHSU Plan
Released in 2010
Cross-governmental, multi-system
Expanded traditional response to mental illness & addictions to include:
promoting positive mental health
preventing problems before they occur
intervening earlier when they do
Intended to offset the future burden of problems
Strong emphasis on needs of children, youth and families
Corresponding focus on key settings

9. Inputs Reviews of best available evidence
Minister-convened stakeholder workshops to shape direction
Input from academics, experts and general public
6-month sector & region-specific consultations i.e. youth, justice sector, unions
Aboriginal reference group

10. Direction to various sectors/stakeholders
3 Goals:
Improve the mental health and well-being of the population
Improve the quality and accessibility of services for people with mental health and substance use problems
Reduce the economic costs to the public and private sectors resulting from mental health and substance use problems
Total of 63 strategic actions across four population groupings (33 ‘upstream’ in nature)
6 ‘Milestones for Achievement’

11. Approach to Implementation
Limited direction – stakeholders left to assess opportunities and respond accordingly
Support to various stakeholders through a small Directorate (3FTE)
Multi-ministry ADM committee for first 3 years
Annual progress reporting
Intention to develop a corresponding evaluation plan and coordinate a research agenda

12. Lessons Learned
Implementation planning and direction required inclusive of accountabilities
Central supports need to be well-resourced and sustained
Progress reporting needs to surface and highlight gaps and challenges
Explicit expectations are necessary
Evaluation planning should happen concurrently so that it may commence with implementation
Local leadership is a critical resource

13. Thank you