We wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide us with feedback on using webinars as one way of getting consumer input into the Housing and Related Supports project. You have raised some excellent points. We recognize that people living with mental health issues are a diverse group of people, and that participating in an online consultation may not be accessible for everyone. To that end, the project research team is using a number of ways to obtain consumers’ perspectives on housing and related supports, including:
· participation in an online blog;
· participation in webinars (online consultations), with an option to participate via telephone;
· participation through completing an online survey (these are in the pilot phase), with the option of completing a paper questionnaires (if preferred);
· inclusion in reference group membership (this project has developed reference groups across the country to inform this project); and,
· face-to-face meetings with consumer groups as part of site visits the project team is doing across the country.
What we have tried to do, using the strategies outlined above is to offer opportunities for people to give us their input directly in as many different ways as possible.We have been very fortunate to have the support of the National Network for Mental Health, which links consumer groups and consumers from across the country, in supporting the online blog, webinars and the online surveys.
We are also trying to obtain consumers’ perspectives indirectly. For example, we have linkages with other MHCC projects, including the Homelessness Demonstration Project and the Family Advisory Committee, and where possible will incorporate themes on consumers’ perspectives from these projects in our final work.As part of our literature review, we are looking at previous work that has obtained consumers’ perspectives on housing and related supports. Finally, we are also asking service providers who work most closely with consumers and family members about their views on the needs of people living with mental health problems and illnesses.
We do recognize that there are both strengths and limitations in these approaches. Unfortunately, we are not able to conduct face-to-face interviews with consumers across the country, due to the finite resources allocated to this project. This limitation will be acknowledged in the final report, and recommendations for future work will be made.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the team if you have any other suggestions for the project.