BCPGA Sponsored Research

Research projects sponsored or supported by BCPGA include the following:

Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens:

The Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens  (SMHPL) is a practical tool for promoting and supporting the well-being of all seniors.

• It is a set of questions to identify (or predict) any direct or indirect negative repercussions of policies and programs (in place or proposed), on seniors’ mental health.
• It supports the development or analysis of any policy or program relevant to seniors, including those that do not directly target either mental health or seniors
• Its’ implementation has been evaluated as a best practice in policy design to support seniors’ mental health.
  Contact pennymaccourt@shaw.ca for more information

Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens Toolkit

The BC Psychogeriatric Association, with funding from the Population Health Fund, Public Health Agency of Canada, has developed the Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens Toolkit. We are excited to report that the Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens has been adopted by the Mental Health Commission of Canada! As you will note from the information below, the SMHPL has great relevance to clinicians, educators and program managers in community, hospital and long term care settings, and we hope you will use it as a tool to support the mental health of seniors with whom you work.  

The Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens is a practical tool for promoting and supporting the well-being of all seniors.

• It is a set of questions to identify (or predict) any direct or indirect negative repercussions of policies and programs (in place or proposed), on seniors’ mental health.
• It supports the development or analysis of any policy or program relevant to seniors, including those that do not directly target either mental health or seniors
• Its’ implementation has been evaluated as a best practice in policy design to support seniors’ mental health.
• It has been adopted by the Mental Health Commission of Canada

Who Should Use the Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens:

The Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens can be used by policy makers and analysts, program managers, evaluators, service providers, seniors’ organizations and advocates, researchers and educators.

When to Use the Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens:

The Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens can be applied, for a variety of purposes, to policies and programs that directly or indirectly affect seniors.

• To develop new programs and policies that support seniors’ mental health
• To identify potential unintended negative effects of existing policies and programs on seniors’ mental health
• To identify gaps in current policies and programs for seniors
• To evaluate policies and programs from the perspective of seniors’ values and needs
• To develop a response to an issue or need from the perspective of seniors’ mental health
• To raise awareness about the mental health challenges that seniors in general, and those marginalized, may face.
• To build awareness about the influence of policies and programs on seniors mental health
• To build a shared understanding of seniors’ values and concerns, and of factors that can influence their mental health
• To complement quality assurance programs, accreditation processes and program reviews.

Some ways the Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens is being used by agency and organizational leaders across Canada:

       Program review by a Home Support Agency.

• As a tool to engage staff in creating client-centered policy in nursing homes.
• Is an assignment in social work programs to guide analysis of policy.
• To guide course development and redesign in a nursing program.
• To assess programs and services (government and non-government) in a community for their overall effect on older adults’ mental health.
• To redesign a geriatric mental health program.
• Seniors’ organization is critiquing provincial government policy being developed.
• To  guide  planning of a regional seniors mental health program
• To facilitate planning of a provincial seniors’ mental health program.
• As a framework to facilitate program/regional integration.

The Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lens Toolkit (SMHPL Toolkit) may also be downloaded from our website www.seniorspolicylens.ca where  you will find information and tools to sharpen and deepen the focus of the SMHPL for specific vulnerable populations of seniors (e.g., persons with disabilities, women), specific areas (e.g., health impact, social inclusion), or purposes (e.g., mental health promotion, emergency preparedness) Background information is provided about key concepts (e.g., principles of population health) and components (e.g., vulnerable populations: gays and lesbians) and their impact/relationship specific to seniors’ mental health.

Seniors to Seniors Brochures:

The Seniors to Seniors brochure provides seniors with “tips” from other seniors for coping with the mental health challenges of aging. The brochure is available at www.seniorsmentalhealth.ca

Psychosocial Resource Manual:

The Psychosocial Resource Manual (PRM) is meant to share unpublished projects and other information useful to those working with the psychogeriatric population.  It is a compilation of promising practices and programs, networks, and other information submitted by clinicians, educators and others in the field, and includes contact information for follow-up.  This is a living document and additions are welcome – please send to pmaccourt@shaw.ca

Promoting Seniors Mental Health in Cancer Care: A Tool for Front-line Care Providers:

The Guide, written by front-line care providers and other experts, provides an overview of the intersection between cancer and seniors’ mental health.  It identifies the challenges older adults may experience and provides practical information for supporting seniors’ mental health during cancer care.  The Guide is available at www.seniorsmentalhealth.ca