A Canadian First: Nova Scotia Sets Standards for Mental Health

HEALTH--A Canadian First: Nova Scotia Sets Standards for Mental Health

Nova Scotia has established a strategic direction for mental health and is the first province in Canada to introduce formal standards to support this direction.

"To the people who receive care, this is great news," said Health Minister Jane Purves. "A comprehensive set of standards will help patients and caregivers, as we continue to improve services throughout Nova Scotia -- where and when people need them."

Ms. Purves met today, Feb. 20, with the Mental Health Steering Committee, to thank them for their contribution in developing the standards and to announce government's full support. Implementation of the standards follows recommendations in the report "Mental Health: A Time For Action" that was released in May 2000.

"More than 200 people across Nova Scotia -- mental health professionals, academics, advocacy groups and mental health consumers -- contributed their expertise to these standards," said Ms. Purves. "They are to be congratulated. They can be proud of the fact that Nova Scotia is receiving national recognition for such a positive accomplishment."

"The province is to be commended for this initiative in the important area of mental health," said Dr. Stan Kutcher, head of the department of psychiatry at Dalhousie University. "Standards for core mental health services will help us plan and evaluate the care that meets the needs of our residents."

Ms. Purves said the plan will be followed by action. "Next week, I will announce our first significant step in moving us forward in the direction laid out today. Quite simply, we wanted to have a clear plan before we started writing cheques."

The minister said she will make an announcement about one of the province's top health priorities -- a plan to address the special mental health needs of children and youth in Nova Scotia.

The standards announced today include staff accreditation, timely access to emergency care and other treatments, discharge plans, protocols for helping high-risk individuals, methods of following up with patients and making sure the province has enough qualified staff to provide care.

In addition, there are standards in the five core mental health programs of promotion, prevention and advocacy; outpatient and outreach services; community mental health supports; inpatient services; and specialty services.

The complete document "Standards for Mental Health Services in Nova Scotia" is available on the Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/health or by calling the Department of Health communications branch at 902-424-5886.

The Department of Health sets the policy direction for health care in Nova Scotia. It also provides funding for the I.W.K. Health Centre and the nine district health authorities that deliver services in communities throughout the province.