BC Mental Health and Addictions START Program

This award was formally named “Living with Illness”. Our Excellence in Quality category names changed in 2020 to reflect the updates to our BC Health Quality Matrix. Visit our Categories and Criteria page to find out more.

Team:

• Dr. Johann Brink is a psychiatrist and Director of Clinical Services and Scientific Director for the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, an agency of BC Mental health and Addiction Services (BCMHAS), PHSA.  He is also a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia.
• Dr. Tonia L. Nicholls is a Senior Research Fellow at the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, BCMHAS.  She is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, and an Adjunct Professor in the department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University.
• Dr. Christopher Webster is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University and Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Dr. Webster is a research consultant with the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, BCMHAS.

Contact: Dr. Tonia Nicholls, Senior Research Fellow, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, FPSC – BC Mental Health & Addictions Services, tnicholls@forensic.bc.ca

Description: The START program is a 20-item clinical guide for the dynamic assessment of 7 risk domains, and is used by interdisciplinary treatment teams throughout the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission.  The program has successfully improved assessment and treatment processes, reducing risk of harm to patients and staff.  Published research on the START program has been recognized nationally and internationally.

Nominated by: Ms. Leslie Arnold, President – BC Mental Health & Addiction Services, RVH, FPSC – BC Mental Health & Addiction Services