Stakeholders in the Healing Professions

Taxpayers /Business / Media

• holding a positive perception of mental health issues
• look at what is right with counselling, not with what is wrong
• financial and physical resources for counselling
• provide experts
• create unfettered partnerships

The Government & the Ministry

• provide stable funding indexed to inflation and population growth
• provide a stable adequate source funding
• work on prevention, rather than cures
• provide a framework for stakeholder interactions and strategies for such discourse
• Ministers of health should undertake a dialogue
• provide adequate resources to staff
• develop needs based budgets
• provide more P.D. activity opportunities
• publicize projects

Professional Associations (Provincial/Federal)

• internet based resources: resources: material and human power
• PD opportunities
• create a collaborative environment
• provide province-wide acceptable practices for counsellors
• make library sources , books, articles, journals accessible
• publish reports, read reports and convey information

Psychologists/Counsellors

• ask the questions that encourage reflection
• help teachers identify problems and propose strategies to arrive at solutions
• emphasize the importance of lifelong learning
• discourage dependency and top-down policies
• sustain hope in presence of adversity, i.e. we can make a difference
• model inquiry
• provide time, support, financial resources
• provide motive and opportunity
• create a climate of collaboration and reflective enquiry

• accept that change is moving forward: get ready, be a part
• be and stay informed
• plan with groups of peers
• share resources
• dialogue at meetings regarding positive change
• buy into a shared vision
• support colleagues
• get involved in research
• find out what works and what doesn't
• take risks

Universities

• publish research findings
• challenge ministry policies unsupported by research
• join with practitioners to improve education i.e. A.R. projects in more locations
• provide more P.D. activity opportunities
• work with therapists to support Action Research

Clients/Parents/ Children: Family members

• convey a commitment to education
• participate in research
• work with like-minded parents
• see the big picture
• lobby for counsellors
• become informed

[ Jennifer Jilks | Articles | Last updated: March 31/08]