Phase 2
Imagining Inclusion: Creating Upstream Change in Community Mental Health (2016-2019)
Imagining Inclusion: Creating Upstream Change (phase 2) was a three-year community-based participatory research partnership between Douglas College, Open Door Group and York University. The Vancouver Foundation provided funding for the project and Vancouver Coastal Health served as our project partner.
In this project, we wanted to build on the two models developed during the first phase of the project—Creating Upstream Change and Lived Experience of Health Work—by answering the following main question and sub-questions:
In what ways can the Creating Upstream Change Model guide down-, mid- and upstream change in community mental health?
2. What kinds of down-, mid- and upstream change result from delivering a peer-led upstream intervention?
3. Which factors impede change?
Our LONG TERM GOAL is that Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) community mental health use peer leadership models to address down-, mid- and upstream factors that shape individuals’ lives.
1. The delivery of peer-led upstream interventions in community mental health that are derived from the models. Our assumption is that instigating upstream change will lead to mid- and downstream change.
2. The co-creation and delivery of a peer leadership curriculum that is integrated, equitable and sustainable in community mental health.
3. The engagement of change agents in the research process who work at mid- and upstream levels.
The following knowledge translation products were developed by the Imagining Inclusion research team…
Digital Storytelling / Photovoice program
The Digital Storytelling / Photovoice program is based on how we used Photovoice in a 10-week process with our participants. It includes facilitation guides and participant exercises. This protocol has been adapted for different audiences and purposes and can be provided in as few
as 5 weeks. It is co-facilitated by peer researchers. This program requires peer facilitator time, a meeting room, and access to cameras. It is ideal (though not necessary) to be able to print participants’ photographs for display.
Speaker Series / Telling Your Story and Being Heard
The Speaker Series / Telling Your Story and Being Heard is a 5 or 8 week program designed to equip participants with writing about their mental health journey and public speaking skills. It is co-facilitated by peer researchers. This program requires peer facilitator time, a meeting room, and access to video-recording equipment (ideally).
Peer Researcher Training
Peer Researcher Training is a 10-week training for individuals living with mental illness to learn the basics about community-based research and evaluation. The purpose is to equip participants to be able to conduct small-scale project evaluations and to be able to participate equitably on research teams. It is co-facilitated by peer researchers. This program requires peer facilitator time, access to a meeting room, and access to a photocopier.
Upstream Change Board Game
Upstream Change Board Game is an educational game to be facilitated with individuals who work in community mental health – including front-line service providers, team leaders, and managers. It is designed as a 3-hour workshop with an introduction, 1 hour of game play, and a debrief. It is facilitated by a peer researcher.
This project is a collaboration between:
Funded by:
Project partner:
