EL MENSAJE JESUÁNICO DE LA MISERICORDIA DIVINA
4.4. La pro-existencia de Jesús
There is a growing Canadian and international evidence base that is guiding system change. Nevertheless, there is a need to make significant progress in our ability to understand what is working well to improve mental health and well-being and to use this expanded knowledge to measure progress in transforming the system and improving outcomes.
Accurate data on the demand for various mental health services, their use, and their effectiveness are needed in order to improve the quality of mental health services, treatments and supports. Good data on mental health outcomes and the impact of the social determinants of health on them are needed to support efforts to foster recovery and well-being wherever possible. Agreement on a comprehensive set of indicators would allow each jurisdiction to measure its progress in transforming the system and improving outcomes over time.
While there are areas of strength in mental health data collection, particularly phy-sician billing and hospital data, there is a long way to go before we have the data that are needed. There are many areas for which data are very limited, such as satisfaction with mental health services or which initiatives best contribute to recovery. Other information is collected differently around the country, such as information about community mental health services or data related to suicidal behaviour and cause of death.
It will not be possible to fill in all of these gaps at once, as it takes time, effort and resources to plan the collection and gathering of data. It should be possible, however, to take advantage of the work already done by govern- ments and agencies across the country and to draw on existing sources of data, despite their limitations. This will mean proceeding along two tracks. The first track entails identifying indicators for which data could be collected relatively easily—even though these data will only paint a partial picture. A set of potential indica- tors for this first track is outlined in the Call to Action section of this Strategy, on page 98. The second track will involve the development of a framework for compiling comprehensive data on the range of health and social outcomes related to recovery and well-being over the longer term, and the establishment of a system to collect the required data.
Research has yielded important advances in our understanding of mental health and mental illness, in areas such as the structure and functioning of the brain; the impact of genetic, psychological and environmental factors; the importance of people being actively involved in their own health care; and the social determinants of mental health. The thoughtful and diligent planning, conduct, interpretation, communication, implementation
health problems and illnesses, and are a critical element for helping to advance the mental health and well-being of all people living in Canada.
Compared to other areas of research and relative to the impact of mental health problems and illnesses on society—whether in terms of the number of people affected or the economic cost—mental health research continues to be seriously underfunded in Canada. This imbalance needs to be corrected and a research agenda developed to enable research funding to be put to the best possible use. Such an agenda should draw on and integrate multiple sources of knowledge and span the full range of mental health issues. It should also enhance opportunities for people living with mental health problems and illnesses to help set the research agenda and participate meaningfully in all aspects of research including as lead researchers.
There is no shortage of important questions to stimulate research. For example: • What can be learned from the experiences of
people living with mental health problems and illnesses, and their families?
• How can neuroscience strengthen our under- standing of the causes of mental illnesses and the relationship between mental illness and the brain, and contribute to the development of more effec- tive medications, treatments, and interventions? • What is the impact of aging on mental health?
• What can be learned from the tra-ditional know- ledge and customs of diverse cultures?
• What is the impact of psychological, social and environmental factors on mental health and on mental illness across the lifespan?
• What clinical approaches are most effective? • What are the best ways to organize services and
resources so that they support people of all ages and backgrounds on their journey toward recov- ery and well-being?
Translating new knowledge into policy and practice across the mental health system should also be acceler- ated, which starts with doing a better job of sharing information and research results about, among other things, promising practices and successful initiatives in all regions of the country. It will be important to build on existing efforts to improve the translation of knowledge into action and to create the infrastructure needed to sustain this exchange of knowledge over time.
The release of this Strategy is only one step in the planning that must be done to make real changes in the mental health system. The development of more in-depth guidelines and standards is essential to improve the quality of all mental health-related policies and practices and to better address the needs of specific population groups. For example, this Strategy calls for the development of recovery guidelines, for the implementation of new psychological health and safety standards in the workplace, and for setting standards for wait times to access community mental health programs and services. Coordinating efforts around these activities and other