REINFORCING COMMUNITIES

The increased number of brain injuries resulting from overdoses is concerning. These individuals are often younger and may require a higher level of care. Communities need to be able to respond.

People are able to do the work of healing when the community they live in is strong and can provide the services they need. In turn, the more a person thrives, so too, will the community.

This event opens the conversation on what is needed to strenghten communities on all levels to address the intersections of mental health, addictions, and brain injury with the development of an integrated provincial service delivery plan which considers disparities between the quality, options, and accessibility of services and supports across the health authorities.

Please join us so your voice is heard!

Dr. John Higenbottam is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who has held senior clinical leadership positions in British Columbia including Vice President, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Vice President, BC Rehab and Vice President, Riverview Hospital.

John has also held several academic positions, including Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Victoria, Associate Dean and Chair, Psychology at Douglas College. He is currently Faculty Emeritus, Douglas College and Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UBC. John is also Editor in Chief, Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health which has become an important venue for Canadian mental health research.

John is Chair, Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Réadaptation Psychosociale Canada (PSR/RPS Canada) and Chair of its BC Chapter. PSR Canada is Canada’s major organization promoting Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) practices as essential to recovery and mental health system reform. BC and served for two terms as Chair, Canadian Alliance for Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), Canada’s major alliance of 19 national mental health organizations. He is also a Director, BC’s Community Action Initiative.

John also served two terms as a member of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Service Systems Advisory Committee. While on this committee, he co-led a major national study and report on mental health housing, Turning the Key.

John’s major clinical and research interests are in developing, implementing and evaluating effective, recovery oriented services for people with complex needs.

Join us to hear the concerns of Dr. Elizabeth Plant regarding overdose survival and brain injury. Dr. Plant’s current roles include the Cowichan District Addiction Medicine Consult Service (AMCS), AMCS Community, outreach at the overdose prevention site, and developing substance use supports for youth. She has completed her addiction medicine fellowship with the British Columbia Centre for Substance.