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The Queen Street Outreach Society was formed from the ashes
of the Queen Street Patients Council to address the systemic
advocacy issues of psychiatric inmates through education and
information. QSOS/QSPC was run by a board of psychiatric inmates
and ex-inmates, and received its funding from the Queen Street
Mental Health Centre (an institution funded by the Ontario
Ministry of Health). This institution was later amalgamated
into the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) and
QSPC was expected to restructure. The board rejected CAMH's
plans in 2000 at a general members meeting, and in 2001 became
the QSOS.
Status
Unfortunately, QSOS was not able to find funding after leaving
the CAMH. It has no programs, services or staff. This site
is managed by volunteers. See an unofficial report of what
happened to QSOS funding here.
[Resources are scarce for consumer/survivor initiatives,
despite recommendations for more c/s funding in the provincial
Task
Force Report (2002), a promise of $250M to mental health
programs (2003 Conservatives' Budget Speech), and similar
announcements by the Liberal government (Summer 2004). In
2005, a new health budget injected millions into mental health,
including community mental health, but missed consumer/survivor
organizations altogether. Later in 2005, Minister of Health
George Smitherman promised more funding for c/s groups (1
million for all of Ontario), but that funding went only to
existing c/s organizations. Meanwhile, smaller c/s organizations
are being lost and their resources are sucked up by more mainstream
organizations.]
Who We Are, What We Do
The Queen Street Outreach Society is a community-based non-profit
organization made up of people who’ve experienced the
mental health system. We have provided education, information
and training on mental health issues from an experienced perspective.
QSOS has done outreach with people in our own community, held social events
and encouraged more open public discussion and debate on key
issues. We believe this helps our emerging culture understand
itself. In turn, we can help others better relate to us.
As an example of our work, we've provided training to: the
Toronto Police Service, mental health professionals, legal
and clinical students, family members, and of course mental
health consumers and psychiatric survivors. We have done this
successfully through the province, in media, and in consultations
asking our community about their needs and experiences.
See Past QSOS Events
Mission Statement
The QSOS provides information, education and training by
and for people who have experienced the mental health system,
and for others.
We seek to promote self-determination and to identify and
remove barriers to participation in society for people who
have experienced the mental health system.
Our Vision
The QSOS is a voice for people who have experienced the mental
health system.
Terms of Reference
The QSOS will always be governed and operated by people who
have experienced the mental health system in the province
of Ontario.
The QSOS supports informed and respectful discussion regarding
issues identified by people who have experienced the mental
health system.
The QSOS encourages networking and outreach between a diverse
group of people who have experienced the mental health system.
Goals
1. Educate everyone about the abilities and keen perceptions
of people in our community.
2. Promote self-sufficiency, self-determination, self-help
and mutual aid in a caring and understanding emotional environment.
3. Generate self-respect, pride, risk taking and hope for
people in our community.
4. Develop stable, accessible, user-friendly programs and
projects run by people who've experienced the mental health
system.
5. Give people confidence to achieve an individual voice
in society and protect their legal rights.
6. Provide our community with a way to reach out to the general
population.
7. Promote a better community understanding of non-professional
supports.
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