There is Collaborative ‘Local Action Team’ in the Cranbrook, Kimberley and Creston areas that consists of local mental health and substance use professionals.

This opportunity provides a platform to share experiences of accessing services allowing their voices to be heard directly by professionals. By sharing ideas and insights gained through lived experience, organizations would receive direct feedback. Furthermore, these professionals want to collaborate with families s on future improvements. This is an excellent way to get involved and make a difference within the local mental health and substance use community, simply be lending your opinion.

Jamie Agtarap of FORCE Society for Kids’ Mental Health says they are trying to make inroads into three communities.

“We are looking for parent volunteers within the Creston, Cranbrook and Kimberly communities. We are looking to connect parents who have a child who has experienced a mental health and/or substance use challenge and youth (16-25 years) who have accessed services for their own mental health and/ or substance use. This could encompass anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or any other mental illness,” Agtarap stated.

Families are at the centre of the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use (CYMHSU) Collaborative in B.C., represented by youth and parents, involved at both the local and provincial level. Youth and families work along-side mental health service providers, physicians, clinicians, municipalities, police, teachers and counsellors, Aboriginal partners and other specialists.

The purpose of the collaborative is to increase the number of children, youth and their families receiving timely access to integrated mental health and substance use services and to document examples and results of involvement of children, youth and families in decisions related to program and system design, clinical practice and policy development.

As a youth or parent participating on a CYMHSU Action Team, you play a vital and valued role as the representative voice of those being impacted. You will have the opportunity to share your own experiences, knowledge and insights and to give suggestions as a co-member of your Action Team. Your contribution will help to inform the CYMHSU Collaborative process and speak to the changes needed to improve access and care for children, youth and families.

To give you an idea of what’s ahead, here are some things that you can expect when you join an Action Team.

Expect that your Action Team meetings will be scheduled regularly and that you will be included in the meeting invites and information updates sent to the team. Speak to your Team’s leader to be sure your time and schedule are also considered for meetings.

Expect that your team will consist of a broad and diverse representation from different sectors of health care and the service provider community and it may grow and change. All members of the Team should have a contact list for your team, including you.

Expect that you or your child/youth may have received past services from one or some of your team members. If you are comfortable, you may certainly re-introduce yourself and reference that connection. Keep in mind that professionals are bound by confidentiality so that information will remain between the two of you unless you choose otherwise.

Expect that it may take some time to build a level of trust within the team. The Action Team will need time to get to know each other and to learn to work together. Your Action Team will go through the expected process of “forming, storming, norming and performing.”

Expect that occasionally there may be language, clinical information and acronyms used that may not be easily understood by you and others. Keep listening, make notes and never hesitate to ask questions or request clarification from your Action Team. You may wish to let your team members know how you would like to advise them if you need more information or clarification.

Expect that some topics may be discussed a number of times from various angles. It may take a considerable amount of time to wade through certain information to clearly identify the primary issues being explored. (Be patient with the process and perhaps identify someone on your team that you can approach to offer further information needed).

Expect that you or others may not always agree with some of the viewpoints or information presented. Remember this is a collaborative process and it is important for everyone on the team to express their point of view, in a respectful way so that the team remains respectful towards one another. It is important to speak to the interests of the group (to enhance child and youth mental health), not the positions of members.

Expect to be asked to share your stories and experience, your concerns and your insight. Share and contribute as you are comfortable. Feel free to discuss any expectations or concerns with your team leader.

Expect that certain discussions may trigger difficult emotions for you. Feel free to excuse yourself and seek support as needed. Do not hesitate to discuss any issues that arise with your team leader. If you are uncomfortable doing this, please connect back in with the FORCE by emailing [email protected]

The CYMHSU Collaborative is funded by the Shared Care Committee, a partnership of Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health.

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