The guidelines, which articulate comprehensive methods for assessing and treating delirium, depression, suicide risk, and mood and behaviour symptoms, were developed by the Canadian Coalition for Senior’s Mental Health (CCSMH).

The organization was developed in 2002 after government representatives and healthcare professionals noted an inadequate awareness about senior’s mental health issues and a corresponding dearth of assessment/treatment resources.

The CCSMH, says Faith Malach, executive director, wants to remove the stigma associated with mental illness in seniors (persons over 65) while creating a tool for both clinicians and researchers that can be easily integrated into current curriculae nationwide.

“We want to raise awareness across disciplines,” says Malach.

The guidelines, were developed by four multi-disciplinary teams of experts who poured over existing standards in all provinces (such as RNAO guidelines) and looked at thousands of studies and articles on senior’s mental health issues worldwide.

A multi-pronged dissemination process is the first priority of the CASMH, says Malach.
It’s crucial, she adds, that the guidelines reach out to physicians, long term care homes, policy makers, universities, caregivers and families. The guidelines have already been sent to the association’s 850 members. They are also being disseminated federally by the Kirby Senate Commission, who authored three papers documenting mental illness and addictions related issues in Canada in 2004.

“It’s important that we go beyond just printing copies and sending it out,” says Malach.

The next step is to bring the guidelines into regular practice through face-to-face meetings and workshops with health care professionals.

“We want to engage stakeholders and build partnerships through an interactive process so we can implement these guidelines and evaluate their effectiveness,” she says.

Since the release of the guidelines as the CCSMH site two weeks ago, more than 2,500 copies have been downloaded, says Malach.