Patients living with both a major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence have traditionally been treated by different health care providers for both illnesses, often at different health care organizations, and not necessarily at the same time.
The goal of the DA VINCI project (developed by The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) is to provide patients affected by both conditions with care from an integrated team of professionals and by the same health care organization. When these illnesses are treated concurrently with a coordinated plan of care, patients receive higher quality, evidence-based care for their conditions, and their outcomes are improved.
The DA VINCI project incorporates evidence-based pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches delivered together and in a coordinated fashion by an interdisciplinary team.
Through ARTIC, their approach is now being implemented at eight partnering sites in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and North Bay at organizations that are academic health science centres, community hospitals and family health teams.
This is good news for people living with mental illness and alcohol dependence, which are both on the rise in Ontario.
Related media:
Huffington Post: "Understanding And Addressing The Complexities Of Addiction" (May 13, 2016)
For more information about ARTIC, please email us at ARTIC@HQOntario.ca.