Together, for community mental health.
A bold vision for a Community Mental Health System that works for everyone. By the community. For the community.
THE CURRENT STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN EDMONTON
Currently, there is no coordinated, comprehensive approach to mental health.
1 in 4 Canadians face mental health challenges. Many Edmontonians do not receive the mental health support they need due to barriers like stigma, cost, and a lack of coordination.
A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ANSWER
A holistic, community-driven solution is necessary to fill the gaps. The answer is a Community Mental Health System that utilizes strengths of community and works in parallel with the existing health care system.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
What is Community Mental Health?
Community-based mental health is an evidence-based model for mental health and well-being rooted in the community and supported by accessible, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate services. Mental health and well-being go beyond the absence of mental illness; they focus on individuals feeling well, functioning as they want and living in supportive communities.
A Community Mental Health System is:
Proactive and Preventative: Focuses on early intervention and prevention.
Community-Driven: Led by individuals with lived experience and local communities.
Accessible and Inclusive: Services are integrated into everyday community settings.
Culturally Appropriate: Tailored to meet the diverse needs of the community.
Collaborative: Focuses on community-based solutions to filling gaps in prevention working alongside existing formal healthcare systems and mental health resources.
“I felt like the medical system was NOT equipped to deal with my mental health at all.”
A NEW APPROACH – THE STRATEGY
The Strategy for Community Mental Health casts an exciting vision: healthy and thriving communities through the development of a reliable, logically connected, and well-integrated system of community-based mental health services.
Strategy for Community Mental Health
Implementation of this vision will bring together leaders from across diverse individuals, communities, services, systems, and funding partners to reimagine how we work together to realize our goal of mental health and wellbeing for all.
AT THE CORE – MAPPING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
Together, we can build a future where every Edmontonian has access to mental health support. Our blueprint brings that vision to life.
An Evolving Blueprint
A reimagined, person-centered model designed to develop a new System for Community Mental Health that prioritizes community- based support of individual needs that works in tandem with existing mental health services and health care systems.
OTHER CORE COMPONENTS OF THE STRATEGY
These components make the building of the Blueprint possible.
Guide to Community Leadership and Accountability
An innovative governance structure that empowers individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges to directly shape the systems and services that support them.
Community Investment Framework
A guide for investment decisions and resource allocation to ensure maximum impact, sustainability, and inclusive reach over the next three years (2025-2028).
Peer-Led Evaluation Framework
A comprehensive system for measuring the success and impact of the Strategy for Community Mental Health, co-created with individuals with lived experience and utilizing an equity and trauma-informed approach.
LIVED EXPERIENCE AT THE CORE
To have a system that serves us all, its development must be led by those of us who will experience it first-hand.
Building on the advances of previous efforts to amplify community voices to evolve service delivery, the strategy will take the next step and center them in its creation and leadership
CALL FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION
Join us in reimagining community mental health. Every voice and contribution counts.
Share your stories, contribute to our blog, be part of a council. Help us understand different cultural perspectives.
