Advancing System Responses to Adults, Children & Youth with Concurrent Disorders including Complex Multiple Problems

In April 2002, the BC government merged policy and long-range planning for the mental health and addiction sectors within the Ministry of Health (MoH), and health authorities were given the responsibility for integrating addictions and mental health planning and service delivery within their regions. To date, the manner in which the health authorities approached integration has not been evaluated in a systematic manner. The purpose of this project is to provide information on the current status of integration across the health authorities (and within health authorities across health service delivery areas), with an emphasis on identifying practices and initiatives that have enhanced integration, and also identifying areas in which there are gaps in service delivery. This project will serve to support the evaluation and development of services and policies at the provincial system level related to adults, children and youth with complex multiple problems, including concurrent mental illness and substance use disorders.