Needs-Based Planning
Mental health and substance use services and supports have traditionally been developed and funded without a comprehensive planning model to help prioritize and allocate resources equitably and according to population needs. In recent years, needs-based planning emerged as a tool to develop an evidence-based approach to delivery of service at a population level. Ground breaking work conducted by Gavin Andrews in Australia and Brian Rush in Canada led to multiple implementation projects locally, nationally and globally. Dr. Vigo has been involved as PI or Co-I in several of these projects, including for the BC Ministry of Health, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and Health Canada. The most recent project (currently under way as a collaboration between CAMH and UBC) will develop, pilot test and validate a quantitative planning model that incorporates population health data on the need for services and supports; research evidence related to help-seeking; and optimal, evidence-based allocation of resources within a nationally agreed upon set of core mental health and substance use services and supports. This three-year project, funded by Health Canada, will integrate work previously conducted at CAMH by Drs. Rush and Rehm, and recent projects in BC led by Dr. Vigo at SFU and UBC. The project will also be supported by a National Advisory Committee and draw upon expertise from among Canada’s top mental health services researchers and several national and provincial collaborating organizations to ensure future implementation, evaluation, and sustainability.
Selected Publications
Estimating the Prevalence of Mental and Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Approach to Triangulating Available Data to Inform Health Systems Planning
Vigo D, Jones W, Dove N, Maidana DE, Tallon C, Small W, Samji H. Can J Psychiatry. (2021).
The perspectives of people who use drugs regarding short term involuntary care for severe substance use disorders.
Chau L, Erickson M, Vigo D, Lou H, Pakhomova T Winston M, MacPherson D, Thomson E, Small W. International Journal of Drug Policy. (In Press).
Reports to the Ministry of Health
Exploring Care Options for Individuals with Severe Substance Use Disorders in British Columbia. 2019. Final Project Report.
Vigo D, Erickson M, Pakhomova T, Lou H, Small W. Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions. BC Ministry of Health.
Update on Estimated Prevalence and Distribution of Selected Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in British Columbia. 2019. Final Project Report.
Vigo, D., Jones, W., Tallon, C., Zapelli, R., Yee, A., Su, T., Dove, N., Samji, H., Goldner, E. Small, W.; Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions. BC Ministry of Health.
Needs-Based Planning of Mental Health and Substance Use Services in British Columbia. Need Estimates for Substance Use Disorders: Enhanced Preliminary Report. 2019.
Vigo et al. Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions. BC Ministry of Health.