Mission, Vision, Mandate and Values
Mission
The PPAO provides independent and confidential advocacy services and rights advice to consumers of and those seeking access to psychiatric services. We work to empower our clients to make informed decisions about their care, treatment, and legal rights. We use information, education, negotiation, and referral to conduct instructed, non-instructed, and systemic advocacy. We conduct public education on these issues. We promote self-advocacy and self-determination.
Vision
The vision of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office (PPAO) is that persons with mental illness in Ontario be treated with dignity and respect, that their legislated rights and entitlements be upheld at all times, and that they be actively involved in decisions affecting their life, care, and treatment.
Mandate
- To advance the legal and civil rights of patients' by means of both individual case work and systemic advocacy;
- To inform the patient, family, hospital staff, and the community about patients' legal and civil rights;
- To assist, facilitate (self advocacy), and help resolve the complaints made by psychiatric patients by providing an avenue for resolution through negotiation according to the patient's instructions;
- To investigate alleged incidents and to assess institutional and systemic responses to these instances;
- To refer patients, when necessary, to outside community advocacy resources such as community organizations, lawyers, or physicians who may offer a second opinion.
Values
In providing services to its clients, the PPAO is guided by the following values:
People: We believe in the autonomy of all people and in each person's right to make informed choices. We value all people as members of our communities and recognize that we may need a variety of formal and informal supports and services in our lives.
Education: We believe education is a powerful tool to effect social change and that this is a part of advocacy.
Community: We believe that with sufficient community options and supports, most mental health consumers are able to remain in their home community if this is their choice.
Process: We believe that the advocate's first responsibility is to act upon the client's expressed wishes and personal choices, and to promote the safety, quality of life and care of clients who cannot instruct an advocate.
Independence: We believe that we must be maximally free from actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest in order to serve our clients more effectively.
Consumer Participation: We believe that it is essential for consumers, to the extent that they want to and are able to, participate and have the sense of ownership in the policy development of the PPAO.
