2023-10-30 18:39:57
In order to avoid experiences that can sometimes be traumatic for certain patients whose condition does not require a stay in a psychiatric hospital, Quebec announces the deployment of measures aimed at preventing and avoiding these hospitalizations.
The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, visited the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal on Monday to announce the implementation of “the three actions of axis six of the Mental Health Plan. interministerial action in mental health 2022-2026”.
Axis six of the plan concerns prevention and options to avoid psychiatric hospitalizations. The document emphasizes that for many patients, it is “a negative experience, stigmatizing and hindering, if it continues over time, their self-determination, their autonomy and their recovery process.”
We therefore propose parallel pathways described as “promising”, making it possible to prevent or reduce the duration of hospitalization.
“The more we can follow them in their living environment, the better,” said Minister Carmant. This is the direction our government wants to take. »
The first of the three measures presented in the action plan concerns the creation of specialized rapid intervention and mental health relay teams in the community. These teams have the mandate to welcome and support patients who are experiencing a crisis episode and who are then discharged from the emergency room.
“What we really want is for mental health emergency reception to be specific to mental health,” explained the minister. With a specific welcome, an assessment which is not necessarily carried out by the emergency doctor, but by a dedicated team – and with follow-up in the community – we ensure better fluidity and avoid service breakdowns. . »
Lionel Carmant wants this approach to be implemented throughout Quebec within 18 months.
The second proposal concerns the implementation of “showcase projects of brief intervention units in psychiatry (UIBP)”. This involves welcoming patients for very short stays in the event of a crisis episode. More precisely, the Douglas Institute has 12 beds reserved for the care of patients for a period of 48 to 72 hours “in order to resolve the crisis and encourage a return home”, it is specified.
Echoing the minister’s remarks, Dr Amine Saadi, director of mental health and addictions programs at the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, spoke regarding a philosophy of intervention in the patient’s environment.
“The sooner he returns to his natural social environment, the better for his recovery process,” he reiterated.
“On the other hand, it is certain that it puts less pressure on our emergencies, on our care units, and we can also have early discharges for hospitalization at home,” continued the Dr Saadi.
This is exactly what the third measure proposes, namely to offer “brief intensive treatment at home (TIBD)” with the contribution of the patient’s entourage. We ensure that the patient receives all the same services, but at home.
Since last month, the Douglas Institute has been offering all of these options to various patients whose condition allows it. For the moment, we are aimed at people with a mood disorder, an anxiety disorder or a psychotic disorder.
In addition to the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, of which the institute is a part, the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal is the only other territory to offer all of these services.
Five other regions have started to deploy the three measures at their own pace. These are the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, the CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec, the CISSS de Laval and of the CISSS de l’Outaouais.
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