Simulated health policy forum gives students insight into stakeholder tensions related to Toronto’s mental health crisis 

This year, students in the course SWK4412, The Context of Mental Health and Health Practice, will get a taste of what it is like to make a deputation to a Standing Committee on Mental Health and Addictions in Ontario — or at least a simulated version of such a committee. 

In preparation for this exercise, PhD student Katie Stadelman and course instructor Professor Rachelle Ashcroft enlisted social work leaders from FIFSW’s community to play the roles of Standing Committee members in a “Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel Committee.” The group simulated a meeting on the mental health crisis in Toronto and solutions for non-police interventions. Their discussion was recorded in a video that is being shared with the class to illustrate the differing priorities and tensions between stakeholders.  

Pictured above, from left to right, are the “actors in studio”, Frank Sirotich, who played the role of a Community Mental Health Director; Steve Lurie, who played the Chief of the Toronto Police Service; Kevin Haynes, who played the Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel (MHAAP) Community Co-Chair; Course Coordinator Rachelle Ashcroft; Uppala Chandrasekera, who played he Provincial Health Minister; and David Puvaneyshwaran, who played a hospital director.