REGENT PARK -- On today’s episode of Radio Regent’s News and Views, David Wall interviews Dr. Michaela Beder, a Psychiatrist and Professor at the University of Toronto, as well as being involved street outreach programs for people experiencing mental health issues.

In this broad ranging interview Dr. Beder discusses her work with community groups to improve greater access to mental health services for marginalized people. As a mental health professional Dr. Beder highlights some of the key shortcoming of our health system when it come to providing an adequate level of mental health services to homeless people, indigenous people, and those who’s  immigration status has not yet been resolved.

Dr. Beder explains  that while OHIP, which is the Ontario Health Insurance Plan that provides for many health care services, it does not however provide universal access to mental health care. And access to mental health services is listed as one of the key factors in defining the social determinants of health. For example, our public health system is structured to provide only basic health care, if you require access to mental health care, the process becomes a little more complicated. Dr. Beder’s work centers on bridging the gaps between mental health practices and mental health policies, with an emphasis on minimizing  the barriers faced by marginalized groups when having to access mental health services.

Dr Beder also speaks about her work as an educator, and the need to incorporate a social justice lens when providing mental health care to vulnerable and marginalized communities.