We’re excited to announce our collaboration with the Knowledge Exchange on Reader Boards Project (KERB) by BCMHSUS!
KERB intends to raise awareness by communicating key mental health and substance use research findings. It aims to highlight overarching ideas from leading research by breaking them down into infographics to be displayed at sites across the province (eg; RedFish Healing Centre, Heartwood Centre for Women, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital).
Our infographic is based on research from 2023 titled How Do Persons Found NCRMD and Identified as Indigenous Differ from Other Persons Found NCRMD: Profiles, Trajectories, and Outcomes (Nicholls et. al). The study followed 1800 individuals found NCRMD for 3 years, and analysed and compared Review board data (criminal history, index offense as well as mental state at the time, recidivism etc.). The research emphasises the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system but underrepresentation in the forensic mental health system, highlighting the importance of further studying the NCRMD defence for Indigenous-specific racism. It calls for culturally safe, individualised and trauma-informed care within the forensic mental health system.
KERB is the first step in larger plan at BCMHSUS to increase the reach of research in the field.
Read about the KERB Project here, (one pager).
Read the full research paper here!