The CCSMH: Connecting People, Ideas and Resources

May 9, 2025

The CCSMH tag line is Connecting People, Ideas and Resources and we take this seriously. We accomplish a lot and there are many examples of how we live this motto every day.

  1. Connecting People

The CCSMH wouldn’t be able to accomplish what it has without the generous support of so many champions and dedicated health care professionals across the country. For example, from 2022-2024, CCSMH had 61 individuals who supported the development of three new clinical guidelines. We had 37 working group members, two research associates, 11 research trainees, eight expert reviewers and three people with lived experience. Our strength is our network!

More and more, the CCSMH is approached by organizations like retirement homes and other senior-serving agencies asking us to do presentations and webinars. We’re so small that we are not able to fulfill all of these requests BUT this is where our CCSMH friends often step in. Over the years, the CCSMH has cultivated great relationships with many health professionals and when we tap them to help us out, they come through for us. We share a passion for addressing the mental health of older adults and we are grateful for the generosity of their time and support.

Hello Bluesky! We try to stay connected and keep you updated through these newsletters. We’re also on social media but not on X (Twitter) anymore. We decided to leave X over our concerns about the quality of the discourse, which has changed over time. We don’t feel the platform serves us anymore. If that’s where you were following us, we hope that you will look for us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Bluesky. Follow us and encourage us to follow you back.

 

  1. Connecting Ideas 

While the CCSMH is known for knowledge translation work (i.e., taking evidence and turning it into information that can be used by different audiences), we are also frequently invited to share our perspectives and positions at various organizational and government tables. Our never-changing goal is to elevate the issues facing older adults’ mental health.

Some of the issues we’ve addressed over the past couple of years have included participating in consultations or initiatives on the following issues:

  • Adult depression screening guidelines
  • Practice guidance on delirium care to older adults in the community
  • Emergency department overcrowding in Canada
  • Aging in place
  • Neurological and psychiatric topics related to the Canadian Guidelines on Post COVID-19 Condition
  • Dementia strategy and dementia ecosystem
  • National research priorities for cannabis

Special Event (May 14th): The mental health impacts of financial fraud on older adults

Most recently, the CCSMH received a small grant for Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. We’re going to get the conversation started on the mental health impacts of financial fraud on older adult victims. The event is geared to health care and social service professionals. The promotion for this event is featured in our May newsletter.  We hope you will be able to join us!

  1. Connecting Resources

By working with talented and passionate experts on current and important issues affecting the mental health of older adults, we create materials like guidelines, clinician pocket cards, brochures and infographics with the goal of getting them into the hands of the right people, be they clinicians, older adults, care partners, policymakers or funders. Most of our resources can be found on our website, in the Areas of Focus section. And hard copies of many of the resources can be obtained through our digital storefront.

CAGP-CCSMH 2025 Awards – Call for Nominations (due June 5th!)

We recognize that the CCSMH is not alone in leveraging people, ideas and resources! The sweet sauce is when the people, ideas and resources come together to make an inspiring and innovative initiative. The CCSMH, along with the CAGP, take the time each year to shine a light on those trailblazing and inspirational achievements through our annual awards program.

The CAGP-CCSMH Vision Award and the CAGP-CCSMH Seniors’ Mental Health Outstanding Care and Integrative Practice Award are handed out to two well-deserving individuals, teams or organizations who are making a significant contribution to the mental health and well-being of older adults in Canada. Help us showcase these amazing initiatives by making a nomination! You have until June 5th!