title: Improving first-line mental health services in Canada: addressing two challenges caused by the deinstitutionalization movement.
abstract: The deinstitutionalization movement in Canada began in the 1960s. It is defined as the process of discharging chronic mental health patients into the community in order for them to receive care from community mental health services. The deinstitutionalization movement is failing in Canada at this time for two main reasons: (1) the provinces' community mental health programs lack integration; and (2) the negative stigma attached to mental illness is still present in the community. This article will discuss ways to ensure the integration of first-line mental health services and the elimination of stigma through organizational and systemic changes in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Graduate from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) with Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees. She is now a PhD student at the School of Public Health at Université de Montréal (Canada). She also works part-time at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (Montréal, Canada) Research Centre.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*