[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: Mental Health Issues in our Community

[carol_lever carol_lever]

Sorry I almost forgot to send this idea to you.

> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: carol_lever carol_lever <carol_lever at sympatico.ca>
> To: Isra Levy <isra.levy at ottawa.ca>, "ehoskins.mpp.co"
> <ehoskins.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org>, premier <premier at ontario.ca>,
> "eli.el-chantiry" <eli.el-chantiry at ottawa.ca>, "shad.qadri"
> <shad.qadri at ottawa.ca>, CCCB Publications / Éditions de la CECC
> <pubmarketing at cccb.ca>, Prince Charles Rain Forest Project
> <info at rainforestsos.org>, Twitter for Business <info at twitter.com>,
> "tobi.nussbaum" <tobi.nussbaum at ottawa.ca>
> Date: March 1, 2017 at 10:53 AM
> Subject: Mental Health Issues in our Community
> 
> Good Day to All,
> 
> I am communicating today regarding the issue of teen aged substance abuse in
> our
> city, generally keeping abreast of civic affairs, therefore, my recommendation
> to the departmental partners is to implement a new mental health model of care
> within Ottawa to complement the Robert Smart Center. 
> 
> As we know, there is a large backlog for access to timely care services in our
> city, but the good news, lies in the fact that we can supplement existing
> services with a new plan copied after existing services here in Ottawa, by
> synthesizing various aspects of city wide programming for teen's with
> substance
> abuse issues.
> 
> Firstly, Ottawa Carleton Association for Person's with a Developmental
> Disability, has a very good community based of model of care based upon
> various
> housing support systems, and home care environments, with a resident RN, in
> high
> needs care environments to deal effectively with medical care issues.
> 
> A similar model could be adapted for teen with substances abuse problems, that
> a
> psychiatrist could oversee, with the new telecommunications net works
> available,
> or soon to develop, using line real time nursing support, whether specifically
> identified as mental health, legal or illicit drug problems, alcohol or
> behavioral management problems associated with peer group affiliation, that
> leads to truancy and similar maladjusted issues, due to unknown underlying
> causes.
> 
> The Inner City Health Project's outreach nursing program is another example of
> how the mental health professionals support community members living in the
> shelter system, through the continuum of transitional housing leading to
> housing
> available for either personal residency, or using rooming houses, as another
> example.
> 
> A similar housing support system could be established for teens living in a
> locked down housing environment in residential areas throughout the city in
> each
> ward, with support from addictions counselors, nurse practitioners, and
> doctors
> of various specialties to perform on line Skype interfacing with each home, as
> well as other departmental partners involved in security policing who may
> benefit with information regarding substance abuse issues in each ward by
> sharing information, leading to evidence to obtain a warrant through the
> investigative process. Politicians and councilors could champion the idea with
> the Royal Ottawa Hospital.
> 
> With supportive communications networks I am certain that teens can benefit.
> Programming could also be structured around the use of community centers for
> recreational purposes, while supporting the longer term needs of children in
> supportive housing due to mental health needs, with youth workers on sight.
> 
> With on line programming community workers could develop each care plan step
> by
> step as progress is made and the Skype interface is idea for educational
> studies
> on line with professional teaching support and tutors.
> 
> A new housing model could be developed using existing by-laws incorporated for
> current models existing in our community through the Canada Health Care Act,
> which includes mental health and virtually any medical issue, with a guarantee
> for universality of service, for Canadian citizens or new immigrants.
> 
> A new model would help to pick up the shortage of beds in every community,
> ward,
> municipality, or province across Canada with secure, pass code protected
> environments accessible to investigative auditors, researchers and those in a
> position to improve our current net works and systemic legislative functions. 
> 
> I can certainly sympathize with Sean O'Leary, in Kanata whose daughter was
> murdered through the sharing or purchase of a pharmaceutical product, obtained
> illegally and laced with fentanyl. I sent a message to Mr. O'Leary on his
> Facebook page but thought that I would also let you know about a new idea that
> may be able to help, and something that should be discussed in Committee.
> 
> Often parents are unaware that their own children are involved in illegal drug
> use, until they tell you years late, as I have learned from my own
> experiences,
> when one of my children was involved with acid use, in high school with
> another
> girl who was the librarian's daughter.
> 
> Although parents are struggling with their own children's mental health issues
> there just isn't enough support if we all put our community heads together a
> solution may become the new reality
> 
> I hope these ideas are seriously considered and discussed at length.
> 
> Carol.