Title: eMentalHealth.ca: Overview
1eMentalHealth.ca Overview
Revised Nov11, 2008
2The Problem
3Mental health problems are
- A massive burden
- Directly related to
- 75 of short term disability claims
- 79 of long-term disability claims
- gt 3B direct economic costs to employers
- Staying _at_ Work Survey (Sept 2005)
http//www.watsonwyatt.com/canada
4The human cost?
5To get help you need to know where to go
- Unfortunately, the average person doesnt know
where to go - Stigma makes it even harder to ask where to go
- And even if they ask someone (even their family
physician), there is no guarantee that person
knows where to go either!
6The Solution
7The Solution eMentalHealth.ca
- Where to go for help in your local area (i.e.
mental health resources) - When mental health events are happening (events
calendar) - What (i.e. plans are underway to have mental
health information)
8eMentalHealth.ca Help is Just a Few Clicks Away
8
9Who We Are
- 2004
- Concept site by Dr. Michael Cheng, CHEO
- 2005
- Joint venture / initiative with the Crossroads
Childrens Centre and Amy Martin, Clinician
10Our Team includes
- Core Management Team
- Michael Cheng, Co-Founder
- Amy Martin, Co-Founder (volunteer)
- (Volunteer) Advisory Panel
- Cynthia Clark Jennifer Forbes Bob Polack Ivan
Valdivia Vanessa Woods - Team of Volunteers
- Including volunteer translators!
- Web Development Team
- Programmer
- Designer
10
11Innovative Features of eMentalHealth
12Innovative Features
- eMentalHealth.ca is a knowledge exchange website
that lets local communities manage their own - Local mental health resource directory
- all ages, public and non-public resources
- Community events calendar
- Community news
- Other Features
- Information about mental health conditions and
related topics
13Complements Other Databases such as 211
- eMH complements other existing database systems,
such as 211 - One size does not fit all it is impossible for
one database alone to meet everyones needs - There will always need to be general and
specialized databases
General
Specialized
14How eMH complements 211
- Even with 211 or local Blue Books
- Mental health service providers still make their
own specialized lists - Even with eMH
- Sub-specialized mental health groups still make
their own lists - Autism Lists
- ADHD Lists, etc
15(No Transcript)
16Detailed Page
17Innovative Features
- Once youve found the resource, you can
- PRINT IT OUT or
- EMAIL IT to your patient, client, friend
18Online Events Calendar
- Whats going on in the community?
- Workshops/Seminars
- Conferences
- Courses/Programs
- Special events
- Etc
19So what is our Secret?
20We Use Open Source Software
What is Open Source software?
21Open Source is Free
- Open Source is a free way to develop software
that is not owned by any company - Open Source software can shared freely with
communities without additional, commercial
licensing cost!
22We Use Open Source Software
- As opposed to traditional, expensive, commercial,
proprietary software - Which you cannot give away freely or share freely
with others because that would be piracy
23Bookshelf Analogy
- eMH is a free bookshelf
- So far, it has books on the Ontario shelves, and
a small number of books on all the other
provincial shelves - We are looking to fill all the shelves with books
24Expansion across Canada
- eMH currently has information about provincial
mental health resources for all provinces
24
25How is the Website/Database Managed?
- Traditional databases require large commitment of
IT and human resources
26Solution ? Distributed Content Management
- The worlds largest, multilingual encyclopedia is
built entirely by distributed content management - I.e. Volunteers with an internet connection
27How it Works for eMentalHealth
Organization Staff
General public
New Information Entered
Local Site Editor(s) Approve, Reject or Edit
Information
28Summary of Historical Challenges/Solutions
- Databases are expensive
- Thus we use Open Source
- Databases require excessive effort to maintain
- Thus we use Distributed Content Management
29Partnerships for Mental Health Information
- eMentalHealth.ca is a founding member of the
- whose other members include
-
30Local Partners
- Communities who have their own local
eMentalHealth.ca databases, and the partners
which manage these sites include - New Path, Simcoe County, Ontario
- Cornwall Community Hospital, Stormont Dundas
Glengarry County (SDG), Ontario - Canadian Mental Health Assocaition, Prescott
Russell / SDG, Ontario - Open Doors, Lanark County, Ontario
31Who has funded us to date?
- Startup grants from
- Community Foundation Ottawa (for Resource
Directory) - Community Project Ottawa (for Events Calendar)
- Currently time-limited funding from
- Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and
Youth Mental Health - CHEO Psychiatry Associates
32Testimonials
- it is difficult for parents to access what
mental health services are available A good
start has been made through their e-mental
health website www.ementalhealth.ca. It is
recommended that this Canadian best practice be
funded to expand this portal service across
Canada.
Leitch, K., (2008). Reaching for the Top A
Report by the Advisor on Healthy Children and
Canada's Youth
33Summary
34So one day, anywhere in Canada
Wow! I can get help at a place just around the
corner Ill give them a call
35Because its easier to get help if you know where
to find it.
36Thank you for your time!
Feel free to contact us via www.ementalhealth.ca
if you have any further questions!