Access to and mobilization of high-quality knowledge in mental health is fundamental to positively transforming mindsets, behaviours, practices and policies.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is developing a Knowledge Exchange Centre (KEC) to establish a reliable and collaborative means for Canadians to access information, share their knowledge and exchange their ideas. The overall goal of the KEC is to help improve the lives of people living with mental illness by facilitating the mobilization of knowledge into action.

The KEC will create ways for individuals and groups across Canada to work in a collaborative and meaningful way to exchange knowledge and provide access to a range of evaluated tools and resources. The MHCC believes knowledge originates from many sources – first-hand experience, formal education, academia and research, program and policy development, traditions passed down from generations, and many others.

The KEC’s mission is to:

Facilitate the development, uptake, adoption and integration of knowledge in mental health wellbeing and recovery by:

• Improving access to and participation in the collective knowledge base supporting an integrated and transformed mental health system for all Canadians;
• Raising the profile of the best evidence – balancing rigour with experience – by creating channels, connections and interactions that support its use; and
• Building and maintaining a sustainable and diverse network of partners and collaborators skilled in bringing knowledge to action in order to advance mental health

Initial KEC activities will be piloted with selective groups in the fall and a fully functional KEC will be launched to the wider mental health community and other publics in the summer of 2011.

If you would like more information about the initiative please email  kec@mentalhealthcommission.ca