We are providing practical and effective ways to better equip primary care professionals to treat mental illness in their daily practice, and patients and families to find the support they need.

Through ECHO Ontario Mental Health at CAMH and University of Toronto, CAMH is virtually connecting rural and remote primary care sites across the province with Toronto-based mental health and addiction specialists. Using teleconferencing technology, mental health experts and frontline care providers discuss patients and learn new subject matter on a weekly basis.

Mental health is complicated, and primary care providers need help. That’s where Portico and the new app for primary care practitioners come in. With the right tools, resources and expert support — delivered with the latest technology — primary care providers can help close the gap.”

“This is a really exciting project, with the opportunity for every health care provider at the table to learn together, which will translate into best practices that can help patients,” says Dr. Allison Crawford, who co-chairs the weekly, two-hour ECHO sessions. “It’s a very patient-centred approach — we’re bringing the experts to one table and mapping out a treatment plan together.”

The ECHO model uses multi-point live video conferencing to connect mental health experts at the hub to multiple primary care providers in the regions, allowing for real-time case consultation and feedback. Through this multi-directional learning structure, ECHO provides primary care providers with knowledge and support to manage complex needs within their own practices.

Based on a handbook co-edited by Dr. David Goldbloom, Senior Medical Advisor at CAMH, the Psychiatry in Primary Care app provides primary care providers with reliable assessment and intervention tools as they support Canadians with mental illness and addiction. Health care practitioners can run sessions with patients using assessments, screening tools and interview guides, or search more in-depth information on Portico.

“Most Canadians access health care exclusively through a primary care setting, be it a physician’s office or a family health team,” said Dr. Goldbloom. “As demand for specialized mental health services continues to outstrip supply, we need practical and effective ways to better equip primary care professionals to treat mental illness in their daily practice.”

Created in partnership with Bell Canada, CAMH’s online interactive Portico network connects health and community service providers to the latest clinical tools, resources and information.

The Slaight Family Centre for Youth in Transition also continues to engage young people through Thought Spot, a user-generated, crowd-sourced map of youth-focused mental health supports in the GTA. The project is made possible through a $750,000 grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research and matching funds from project partners.

Portico Network officially launches at CAMH.