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The Queen Street Outreach Society
QSOS has provided education, information and training on
mental health and legal issues by psychiatric survivors and
mental health consumers. Some of our clients were: Toronto
police officers, health care workers, social workers, psychiatric
workers, as well as families, survivors and consumers across
Ontario.
The Queen Street Outreach Society was formed from the outgoing
Queen Street Patients Council (QSPC), an advocacy organization
run by psychiatric patients, inmates, consumers (users) and
survivors. QSPC received its funding from the Ontario Ministry
of Health through the Queen Street Mental Health Centre at
about 60,000$ per year.
The Mental Health Centre was later amalgamated into the Centre
for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH). QSPC was asked to
restructure and become part of the Empowerment Project. The
board decided to make their participation contingent on demands
for increased leverage such as more information about rights
complaints, which the CAMH rejected.
As a result of the QSPC's eventual rejection of the CAMH's
plan in 2000, the board decided to stand aside and let a new
Empowerment Council emerge, while the Council changed its
corporate name to QSOS with the intention to inform, educate,
and train without a speciific advoaccy mandate. Given the
lack of funding options, QSOS was not able to find resources
after leaving CAMH.
QSOS ceased its activities in January, 2003. It no longer
has programs, services or staff. This site is managed by one
of its former coordinators.
On June 24th, 2007, QSOS changed its name again to allow
for the incorporation of the Psychiatric
Survivor Archives, Toronto. QSOS no longer exists, and
PSAT is now a non-profit corporation.
The following are statements used by the QSOS in its bid
to obtain new funding.
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 Examples of QSOS Hosted 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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