This report includes an overview of the Safewards Model of Care and an explanation of how it is being piloted in Ontario forensic mental health facilities in response to the rise of serious incidents and charges under Ontario’s Ministry of Labour. It offers reflections on successes and opportunities for improvements in response to how staff and clients grapple with issues of safety and violence at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Special attention is paid to illustrating the history of a mental health service user standpoint. The intended audience includes mental health service providers, service users and their advocates.
The Empowerment Council hopes that through providing concrete recommendations, all stakeholders in the system can learn more about the structural advocacy that could lead to service improvements both at CAMH and globally.