This report from the Community Health Action Plan discusses the perspectives gathered about mental health from equity-deserving communities, alongside the broader public, in Edmonton. In particular, they explored what mental health means to community members, what is working well, what needs to be prioritized, and what needs to transform. The report will inform the development of the Strategy for Community Mental Health.
Purpose of Engagement
● To inform the development of a Community Mental Health Strategy with engagement that centres equity-deserving communities’ perspectives and expectations alongside broader public engagement through a survey.
● To gather input on transforming the mental health system, which includes the community mental health sector and community-based services and supports.
● To centre lived experience in the strategy’s development, with specific considerations for communities that typically face barriers in accessing mental health services or have been historically overlooked in engagement: equity-deserving and Indigenous community members and all their intersections.
● To support developing meaningful, ongoing relationships with the community about mental health, mental illness, and mental wellness, utilizing an Indigenous research methodology called keeoukaywin – “The Visiting Way” from Dr. Janice Cindy Gaudet.