We Believe in Uniting Minds.
It's time to change how we approach Mental Health in Canada—not just with ideas—but through real collaboration and decisive action with a wider range of perspectives from outside the Mental Healthcare space.
Why now?
1 in 5 Canadians will suffer with a Mental Health related issue in their lifetime. Mental Health support in Canada is disjointed, which creates a daunting and unnecessary struggle for those who need help—especially when it’s needed most.
We Believe in Being Intentional.
Converge takes an evidence-informed approach to the work we do. We use a multi-pronged approach to create change.
Seeing the Larger System. We do this by:
By seeing population change and early interventions within broad systems, we can make a difference. We amplify what's working well in Canada's Mental Health sectors and seek to accelerate and scale those solutions.
Fostering Reflective and Generative Conversations. We do this by:
Coordinating sector wide conversations on industry topics
Connect Coalition members who are working on aligned projects to ensure knowledge sharing and translation
Promoting the activities of Coalition members so that ideas can be shared across the country
Foster a Solution Spirit.
We do this by:
Shifting Collective Focus from Reactive Problem Solving to Co-Creating the Future
Solution Sprint
We Believe in Bringing Professionals Together.
We are bringing together providers and agencies who are making a difference in Mental Health access in Canada. We respect cultural differences, community diversity and seek to learn from each other. Different voices working together to create better solutions is our perspective.
Mental Health Providers and Agencies
Converge provides a platform for Mental Health providers and agencies to share their ideas and catalyze large-scale, system-level change across the country.
Research, Technology and Education Agencies
Agencies working adjacent to Mental Health can contribute their unique perspective and expertise. Your input identifies and addresses critical weaknesses and blind spots in the Mental Health system.
Government Policy Decision Makers
We want to help create policies that promote a more seamless, accessible, and effective Mental Health system in Canada. By partnering with us, you can tap into our collective to make informed decisions that address the gaps and challenges within the Mental Healthcare system.
Our Collective
Impact Approach.
Converge acts as the backbone agency, convener of conversations and conduit to other organizations who may also be interested in participating in the work, or that will benefit from the findings of the research.
The studies presented represent the work done since Converge's inception and the various organizations that were involved in bringing this work to light.
In all the cases, there are a series of recommendations that community organizations, businesses and government agencies can adopt to strengthen Canada's Mental Health ecosystems and provide more effective and coordinated "on and off ramps" to the Mental Health highway.
Current Initiatives:
Have a Topic You Want Researched or a Project You Want to Propose?
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Explore our Impact!
Our Coalition members benefit from shared knowledge that can be applied in their own organizations. By contributing, you are affecting positive change for Mental Healthcare.
Converge's research is not done in a silo. All of our projects bring together a variety of stakeholders to design and participate in the study. The goal of the research is to provide Coalition members with market research as well as academically sound studies to help build the business cases for their work, develop advocacy and public policy initiatives and to propose collaborative solutions.
Our research projects are developed by Coalition members who are seeking robust information to further their business cases, advance the discourse on effective mental health service delivery or identify new opportunities for collaboration. The findings from these studies provide recommendations for Coalition members and others to adopt (or adapt) within their own spheres of practice.
Supporting Enhanced Collaboration between Organizations Providing Mental Health Services
downloadUnderstanding the Current Landscape of Emerging Adult Mental Health Services and Needs in Calgary and Surrounding Areas
downloadCONVERGE Mental Health Case Study Summary: Zero Waitlists for Mental Health Supports in Calgary, AB
downloadReport on Findings and Implications for an Ethical Decision-Making Framework for Information Sharing
downloadThe resources listed below have been developed through Converge research projects or as part of a Coalition activity/presentation.
Cybersecurity Policy developed by Islamic Family & Social Services Association
Read PolicyRead PolicyFrom our various research initiatives a number of recommendations were brought forward. Some of these recommendations were further developed by Converge.
Enhancing Collaboration in the Mental Health Care Sector: THE INFORMATION SHARING FRAMEWORK Learning Sessions
Do you provide supports to individuals or families dealing with mental health issues, and need to collaborate with other organizations that also provide care, but don’t know if privacy legislation allows you to?
Development of a Preparatory Standardized Program That Defines the Foundational Skills for Student Services
This collaborative project will identify the skills, knowledge and competencies required to support adolescent mental health (ages 12-18) through the education system, and will result in a preparatory standardized program that defines the foundational skills for student services. It will also improve navigation of the Mental Health and wellness system for students and families by confirming the appropriate referral pathways to external partners.
What is the Information Sharing framework?
The Information Sharing Framework is a set of tools to support a constellation of individuals, organizations and industries who are entering into a working arrangement that requires client/patient/organization data to be shared in order to support or advance the care of the individual and/or their caregiver. The agencies involved have unique perspectives on a shared challenge or opportunity.
Under Our Work / Collective Impact Approach:
In all the cases, there are a series of recommendations - based on research, best practices and lived experience - that community organizations, businesses and government agencies can adopt to strengthen Canada's Mental Health ecosystem.
The Information Sharing Framework Learning Sessions
Do you provide supports to individuals or families dealing with mental health issues, and need to collaborate with other organizations that also provide care, but don’t know if privacy legislation allows you to?
Annual General Meeting & Mental Health Summit
April 18 & 19, 2024 in Calgary, Alberta
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