SASKATCHEWAN TEAM FOR THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF ADDICTIONS TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (STREAM)

FUND: Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Health Research Group Grant – Phase II

PARTNERS: University of Saskatchewan Department of Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Sociology, School of Public Health; First Nations University of Canada School of Indian Social Work; Prince Albert Parkland Health Region; Calder Centre; Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc.; Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Community Care Branch; National Treatment Strategy Leadership Team; Community Advisory Team (Elder Campbell Papequash, Cynthia Shorting, Russell Bone, Joseph Custer, Glen McCallum, Carolyn Kennedy)

The objective of the Saskatchewan Team for Research and Evaluation of Addiction and Mental Health is to reduce the health and social primary health care consequences of problematic substance use and mental health issues in both rural and urban communities in Saskatchewan, with focused attention on First Nations and Métis peoples. With the awarding of a Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Health Research Group Phase I Grant, STREAM has developed a research strategy to provide culturally appropriate addictions treatments and mental health services for people in Saskatchewan, with an emphasis on Aboriginal peoples. With its Phase II grant, STREAM will turn this strategy into action. Stream is focusing on assessing existing and developing innovative tools to measure change (i.e., healing) in individuals participating in substance abuse programming, and developing and pilot-testing a program evaluation workbook that organizations can use to plan their substance abuse and mental health program evaluations.

ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF STREAM’S PHASE II TEAM: (left to right) Dr. Peter Butt, Dr. Raymond Tempier, Dr. C. Randy Duncan, Shelanne Hepp, Marje Lepnurm, Dr. Colleen Anne Dell; FRONT: Karen E. Mosier, Sharon Acoose, Jennifer Schoeck, Adrien Tempier, Dr. Carolyn Brooks.

STREAM PHASE II MEMBERS’ INAUGURAL MEETING APRIL 26 & 27, 2010 (left to right): (BACK) Savhanna Wilson, Rose Deitner, Randy Duncan, David Mykota, Brett Enns, John Thelander, Michelle Kushniruk, Mitch Datsuck; (MIDDLE) Carolyn Kennedy, Raymond Tempier, Shauna Lafontaine, Glen McCallum, Gerald Block, Chuck McCann; (FRONT) Jean Hill, Russell Bone, Cynthia Shorting, Monique Koskie; (MISSING) Jody Yanko, Jeremy Shorting, Penny Froh, Joseph Custer, Debra Dell, Campbell Papesquash, Gwen Glagoloff, Rebecca Jesseman, Sharon Acoose, Peter Butt, Lewis Mehl-Madrona

FINDINGS – PHASE I GRANT

Research – One research project STREAM has engaged in is with members of the Youth Solvent Addiction Committee on an article for publication in a special edition of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, titled “From Prozac to Peanuts: Treatment offered at an Aboriginal youth solvent abuse treatment centre relays the importance of culture”. A systematic review of articles published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry over the past decade (1998-2008), augmented with a larger review of Canadian and select international literature, revealed a serious gap in understanding and practice between Western psychiatric disorder-based and Aboriginal culture-based approaches to treatment and healing from substance abuse specifically and mental health generally. Differing conceptualizations of mental health and substance abuse are discussed from Western psychiatric (individualistic) and Aboriginal (holistic) worldviews, with a focus on connection to self, community and political context.

Evaluation - STREAM has worked with several communities across Saskatchewan, including the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc., the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, the Youth Solvent Addiction Committee, Building a Nation, and the provincial TV show Drug Class. What has been learned is being developed into a collaborative, interactive workbook designed to assist mental health and addiction services agencies with the initial engagement of key stakeholders and the culturally competent planning aspects of program evaluation. The workbook will emphasize how to focus and prioritize a program evaluation by getting administrators, supervisors, and front-line clinicians and addiction counselors to: a) describe their program toward developing a logic model; b) define the purpose of their program; c) determine the key questions to be answered in an evaluation; and d) develop both client outcome indicators and process (system) indicators that are meaningful, feasible and actionable. The workbook will focus on the Saskatchewan context.

Spontaneous Recovery from Addiction Gathering

Organized by the Saskatchewan Team for Research and Evaluation of Addictions Treatment and Mental Health Services (STREAM), a gathering was held on August 24th & 25th, 2009 in Saskatchewan on what is referred to by some as ‘spontaneous recovery from addiction’. The aim of the gathering was to learn from those who have ‘naturally recovered from problematic substance use’. Areas addressed included what assisted in the decision to stop problematically using substances and what assists in continuing to not use. Based on research others have completed, it is understood that a significant life event is sometimes a major determining factor. Alongside this, cultural support and inspiration from others is also identified. The influence of these factors were reviewed in individuals’ life stories.

STREAM members, alongside the attendees, are currently reviewing the themes from the gathering to be shared publically. It is well established that only a small proportion of the general population accesses formal treatment services for their problematic substance use. It is important therefore to understand life events and supports outside formal treatment programs that are helpful to individuals.

(left to right) Russell Bone, Cynthia Shorting, Randy Duncan.

Gathering site, Ancient Spirals Retreat, Saskatchewan

Mental Health Week News Article – Community-based Approach Key to Mental Health and Addictions Treatment

ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF STREAM’S PHASE I TEAM: (left to right) Dr. C. Randy Duncan, Dr. Raymond Tempier, Karen Mosier, Dr. Colleen Anne Dell; Missing: Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona

HORSE AS HEALER: TREATING VOLATILE SOLVENT ABUSE

FUND:

Project 1 – Office of the Research Chair in Substance Abuse, University of Saskatchewan, funded by a grant from the Ministry of Health

Project 2 – Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research

PARTNERS:

Project 1 – Nimkee NupiGawagan Healing Centre, University of Regina (Faculty of Social Work), Keystone Equine Centre, Lambton Equine Assisted Learning Centre

Project 2 – University of Calgary (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine), University of Regina (Faculty of Social Work), White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre, Cartier Stables, Youth Solvent Addiction Committee, National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

PROJECT 1 – Working with the Nimkee NupiGawagan Healing Centre (NNHC), in Muncey, Ontario – which provides residential treatment to First Nations and Inuit youth who abuse solvents – and both the Keystone Equine Centre and the Lambton Equine Assisted Learning Centre, this study has a dual focus: (a) to document the general experiences and lessons learned of First Nations and Inuit youth attending NNHC’s residential treatment centre with the Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs, and (b) to document the connection between the EAL programs and NNHC’s culture-based model of healing (i.e. resiliency). A triangulation of qualitative methods to address these two areas are being undertaken: interviews with program participants, staff interviews, review of EAL facilitator and NNHC staff notes, youth journaling following EAL participation, and researcher observation at the EAL program.

PROJECT 2 – To help fill the serious gap in research evidence in the equine guided interventions field, our multi-disciplinary community-based research team has adopted a holistic, culturally-informed framework to examine the role of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) in youths’ solvent abuse treatment, behavioural change, and well-being. The question this exploratory study sets out to examine is: Does EAL contribute to the residential treatment and the bio-psycho-social-spiritual well-being of First Nations youth who abuse solvents, and if yes, how?

Some of our Project 2 partners taking Equine Assisted Learning Training at Cartier Stables

EVALUATING CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES IN SASKATCHEWAN

FUND: Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Community Care Branch, Dr. C. Randy Duncan

PARTNERS: Saskatchewan Regional Health Authorities

On behalf of the Department of Sociology, Dr. Dell has entered into a contract with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to facilitate a formative evaluation of the Child and Youth Mental Health and Addiction Services across the provinces’ 13 Health Regions. The Ministry (Community Care Branch) has a goal of targeting the effective use of child and youth mental health resources toward improved mental health and well-being functioning for children, youth, and their families. The current focus is on implementing two complementary client outcome indicators based on the following measures: a) the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS); and b) the ASIST for Agencies (Outcome Rating Scale [ORS] and Session Rating Scale [SRS]). Dr. C. Randy Duncan is the lead investigator to facilitate the implementation of these outcome indicators, assist the Health Regions in pilot testing the associated measures, and collect, analyze, and report on the data.