nancy hall |
|
Department: Psychiatry Background/area of expertise: I have worked in 6 provinces in Canada organizing health care programs. I have worked with pregnant women, seniors, youth and people with disabilities. Most recently I was the Mental Health Advocate for BC and so I ran an office that had contact with over 3000 British Columbians around their mental health issues and needs for supports. I also had to do policy advocacy and that brought me into the intersection of community needs and government policy. Much of my work as Advocate involved working with the police and the coroner and families around tragic circumstances invovling individuals with mental illness. Besides my academic training, I am a family member of someone living with schizophrenia. I have done lots of community presentations of mental illness and how to cope and not surprised by much that people bring to the discussion, which helps! I have held a Community Researcher Award from Health Canada and consider myself someone who knows how to look at populations and analyse quantitative or qualitative data. Most recently I have been working with the Interim Authority for Community Living British Columbia and the services for individuals with extraordinary needs. I am involved in the closing of Willow Clinic which are the last long stay patients on the Woodlands groups and the planning of new health and social care responses to individuals. My work in health promotion has always focused on self care and mutual aid. I have done several 'action" research projects and so could work with students to help them understand how the research process works and how it can lead to change. Main Areas of Interest/Passion: Health care systems planning & reform; Participatory research; Policy as an instrument of change; Mental health and mental illness; Participatory learning methods; Individual's rights as citizens and as patients in the health care system. Experiences students might expect: I could talk to a group of students about mental health and mental illness. I could help students design, implement and analyse a survey on a mental health issue. I could arrange for students to meet individuals with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities in a community setting or arrange for some self advocates to come with me to a school. I could take a small group on a walking tour of the DTES: Carnegie Centre, Vancouver Coastal Medical Clinic, A shelter, the Portland Hotel, the Court House. (This would have to be arranged in advance). I could arrange for students to visit Willow Clinic or Riverview Hospital. These long stay institutions for people with disabilities are closing and I think it is important for students to learn about how we treated people with disability in the past.
|