Health equity is the principle underlying a commitment to reduce and ultimately eliminate these disparities in health and in its determinants. It means that we all have equal access to opportunities to attain a higher level of health through timely, appropriate and high-quality care, independent of social, economic and demographic status Pursuing health equity means ensuring that all people reach their full health potential and receive high-quality care that is fair and appropriate to them and their needs, no matter where they live, what they have or who they are (World Health Organization, n.d).
CAMH’s commitment to equity can be found in the following initiatives:
- Connected CAMH Strategic Plan 2024-2030
- Dismantling Anti-Black Racism: A Strategy of Fair & Just CAMH
Office of Health Equity
The Office of Health Equity was established in March 2011, though CAMH has been championing diversity for much longer. Diversity as an organizational commitment was approved as a priority in 2000. The OHE offers consultation and direct support for equity initiatives and works with local and national community stakeholders that facilitate engagement. We have also historically led sociodemographic data collection and analysis of equity initiatives. The OHE offers training and education resources for health equity. This work relies strongly on partnerships, both internal and external, with a commitment to lead with evidence on collaborative initiatives within CAMH, the community, and across all levels of government
The Office of Health Equity has led successful local, provincial, national, and international initiatives across four streams of work: education and training, interpretation services, research and evaluation, and strategic initiatives. Our approach is built on the following principles and foundations:
- Evidence based
- Capacity building
- Evaluation
- Partnerships and collaboration
- Promising practices
For additional information contact us at healthequity@camh.ca.
Funded by Ontario Health, CA-CBT for Black Populations is a capacity-building initiative designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of providers delivering culturally responsive cognitive behavioural therapy to Black populations. this work includes:
