Programs & Initiatives

Adult Mental Health & Substance Use Project

The Collaborative Services Committee (CSC) in the Comox Valley identified the need for increased community collaboration and more clearly defined pathways to adult mental health and substance use (MHSU) supports in the community. Recognizing the community need, and in alignment with the identified and prioritized nine recommendations of the Interdivisional Strategic Council Primary Care and Mental Health and Substance Use Taskforce (ISC MHSU) from May 2024, the Comox Valley Division of Family Practice partnered with Island Health to coordinate a two-phased MHSU Care Pathways Project.

  • Project aim: to improve care pathways, communications, and coordination between primary care, psychiatry, and MHSU programs and services.
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Strengthening MHSU Care Pathways

Through collaborative events, shared resources, and ongoing leadership work, this project helped strengthen connections, clarify access points, and improve coordination between primary care, psychiatry, and community supports across the Comox Valley.

Phase 1

MHSU Care Pathways Event: Hosted in February 2025, the event brought together 60 participants, including FPs/NPs, specialist,s and community organizations, to learn, share and map the care pathway to identify gaps and barriers for patient care. Learn more in the Event Summary Report and view the MHSU Community Supports: Patient and Clinic Resource.

Phase 2

 A MHSU Care Pathways Project Leadership Team was formed to evaluate and further the recommendations and key areas of focus identified during the MHSU Care Pathways event.

Key Accomplishments of the Care Pathways Project 

  • Hosted a successful MHSU and Psychiatry Q&A session with 16 attendees ·
  • Developed a clinic resource: MHSU Doorways to Care 
  • Updated and added Pathways pages
  • Regular MHSU updates in HeartBeat, highlighting key messages, updates and MHSU/PCCC access information
  • Strengthened relationships, collaboration and improved communications between MHSU/PCCC and FPs/NPs
  • Dr. Ed Howard’s MHSU key learning spotlight: learn more here.
Full Summary Report
The project was led by Dr. Natalie Drouillard, Dr. Bonnie Bagdan, Dr. Ed Howard, Jennifer Block (Manager Community MHSU Services), Jolene Turney (PCN MHSU Consultant), Lesley Howie (Island Health Director MHSU) and Kris Johnson (Division).