Atlantic Seniors’ Mental Health Network

ASMHN History & Structure

The ASMHN was launched in 2010 at the CCSMH Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Initially only eight core members, ASMHN today has grown to over 500 regional affiliates! The ASMHN receives financial support from the CAGP. The ASMHN Leadership Team meets at least twice a year to provide direction for the ASMHN.

What is the Atlantic Seniors Mental Health Network (ASMHN)?

The Atlantic Seniors’ Mental Health Network (ASMHN) brings together and supports frontline workers to serve the mental health needs of older adults in Atlantic Canada.  The ASMHN is a regional knowledge exchange and translation (KE/ KT) network of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) and Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry (CAGP). Established in 2010, the ASMHN has grown from eight to over 500 members.

What are the goals of ASMHN?

Our goals are to support and grow our regional community of practice in mental health care of older adults. The ASMHN offers regional networking and knowledge translation and exchange opportunities to share experiences and expertise, promote excellence and best practices in seniors’ mental health promotion and service delivery, and support advocacy and social policy advancements. While the ASMHN promotes regional networking and KT and engagement, CCSMH and CAGP does the same nationally.

Useful Practice Online Resources for Atlantic Canadian Clinicians

The following is a list of free Mental Health Promotion Resources for Atlantic Canadian clinicians and for use with older adults/ patients:

www.mysleepwell.ca –CBT for insomnia and information on the risks versus benefits of sleeping medications.

www.fountainofhealth.ca–Behavioural activation resources to promote mental health and wellbeing including the health behaviour change toolkit.

www.fohthrivelearningcentre.ca– Online courses and resources to promote wellbeing (for individuals, organizations and clinicians- for self and for patients)

https://wellnessapp.ca– A free, web-based app for health behaviour change (with goal-tracking)

www.memorycafens.ca–Social events organized for people living with dementia and caregivers to promote wellbeing and connection. Hosted online from NS but available to all Atlantic Canadians.

The Dalhousie SMH Web Education Series offers educational videos for frontline healthcare professionals working with older adults. These Geriatric Psychiatry topics are intended to improve participants' knowledge of assessment, diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders and to explore  common ethical, legal and psychosocial issues when working with older adults.  This educational series is organized by the Dalhousie Geriatric Psychiatry Service in Nova Scotia, Canada. All talks are in English.

Watch recordings of the Dalhousie Seniors Mental Health Web Education Series here. Check back periodically as new educational content will be added throughout the academic year!