The Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Virtual Care Collaborative (the Collaborative) is a community of practice for virtual mental health and addictions service providers in Ontario. We work to identify practical solutions and the best evidence to guide virtual care across the province.
The Collaborative shares evidence with the healthcare system in a number of areas, including:
- current virtual care practices
- health equity and lived experience (as it relates to virtual care)
- equipment, connectivity, and platforms
- training on virtual care.
Currently, the Collaborative is coordinating a webinar series, as well as developing and sharing resources on virtual care. You can find the Collaborative’s resources and webinars under the “related resources, news, and events” heading further down this page.
Background
In spring 2020, healthcare organizations implemented virtual care rapidly in response to the pandemic. At that time, several partners from across Ontario formed this Collaborative to support the mental health and addictions sector as it pivoted towards virtual services. The Collaborative was guided by a similar initiative in Ontario’s Champlain Region.
Membership
The Collaborative’s membership includes a diverse range of stakeholders from the mental health and addictions sector in Ontario. Members share an interest in the successful implementation of virtual care and are dedicated to addressing health equity and to closing the digital divide.
Our co-chairs are Christine Lebert from the Provincial System Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Purnima Sundar from the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions.
External resources
In addition to the Collaborative’s resources under the “related resources, news, and events” heading below, you can learn more about virtual care delivery on the following sites:
- Virtual care resources from The Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions
- CAMH’s Digital and AI Mental Health Certificate
Project contact
Michael Weyman
Project Coordinator
Michael.Weyman@camh.ca
Related resources, news, and events
Success Stories in Action: A digital front door makes addiction medicine more accessible
Resource | Mar 30, 2022Success Stories in Action: Yet Keen Seniors’ Day Centre
Resource | Jan 26, 2022Success Stories in Action: Our virtual world toolkit
Resource | Jan 19, 2022Success Stories in Action: Championing access to technology for individuals living in poverty
Resource | Jan 12, 2022Success Stories in Action: Highlighting organizations who are working to reduce the digital divide
News | Jan 12, 2022Webinar recording: Ensuring no one is left behind: The Virtual Care Equity Matrix
Resource | Dec 3, 2021The Ontario Internet Access Map
News | Nov 26, 2021Webinar recording: Bringing high-speed internet connections to underserved communities
Resource | Nov 23, 2021Webinar recording: How to serve Francophones at their most vulnerable times
Resource | Sept 26, 2021Webinar: How to serve Francophones at their most vulnerable times
Event | Aug 24, 2021Virtual care equity matrix: No one is left behind
Resource | Jun 3, 2021Research Snapshot: Use of asynchronous virtual mental health resources
Resource | Apr 26, 2021Research Snapshot: Finding digital mental health tools during the pandemic: A synthesis of resources
Resource | Dec 1, 2020Summary: New clinical guide offers tips on how to deliver virtual care
Resource | Nov 6, 2020Webinar recording: Finding digital mental health tools during the pandemic
Resource | Oct 28, 2020Summary: Toolkit for e-mental health implementation
Resource | Sept 28, 2020Evidence brief: Virtual and remote mental health care for older adults
Resource | Jul 30, 2020Summary: Addressing the health equity impacts of virtual care
Resource | Jul 27, 2020