Citizen Engagement Program
HMC works together with Nova Scotia Health (Central Zone) to help the Mental Health and Addictions Quality Teams find dedicated, local community members who have lived experience with mental health and/or addiction challenges. If selected, community members join monthly or quarterly quality team meetings within Mental Health and Addictions for (up to) a two-year term as a Patient/Family Advisor (PFA).
Quality Teams exist to ensure that programs are doing all that they can to help and safely support Nova Scotians who are experiencing mental health and/or addiction challenges. These teams pave pathways to improvement, and by allowing persons with lived experience to be a part of them, we are given a rare opportunity to see and contribute to, some of the work that the public doesn’t normally know about.
Eligibility:
You have personal experience of living with a diagnosed mental health challenge &/or addiction to drugs (including alcohol) and has received support/treatment for this in Nova Scotia.
You were the primary care giver for someone who has (or had) a diagnosed mental health challenge &/or addiction to drugs (including alcohol), and has received support/treatment for this in Nova Scotia).
Citizen Engagement may be for you if you are a person who:
Is familiar with the Mental Health and Addictions Program (Central Zone of Nova Scotia), NS Health
Is open to different perspectives and diverse populations
Can respectfully and articulately communicate within a structured meeting
Is assertive (i.e., able to speak up and to ask questions when information isn’t clear)
Does not intend to highlight &/or advance one’s own (personal or professional) advocacy work
Will not use this opportunity to participate as a place to vent &/or complain about the healthcare system
Most Quality Team meetings are currently held virtually, so candidates must:
Have a device (laptop, tablet or smartphone with a working camera and microphone) to be able to join meetings online (usually, MS Teams or Zoom platforms)
Can attend either a monthly or quarterly business style meeting, online or in-person (in-person meetings are held with the HRM)
Can attend meetings that occur within the day between 8:30 - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Important: Persons participating in the Citizen Engagement program are not employees of Healthy Minds Cooperative &/or NS Health. This is a service-based (i.e. volunteer) position, although a modest honorarium may be available.