Dear Department members,

As you are aware, our current Strategic Plan identifies the advancement of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDIA) as a strategic priority for the Department, and furthermore, has also specified our aim to engage with Indigenous partners and advocates to address the need for enhanced Indigenous-focused mental health care, research and education.

Accordingly, I am pleased to announce that two new committees have been established to provide consultation to Department leadership and participate in the development of strategies to advance these two areas of priority:

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY EDIA COMMITTEE

The Department’s EDIA Committee, chaired by Dr. Andrea Tuka, unifies the previous faculty-level and resident REDI Committees, and now includes representation from the graduate student and staff groups. The Committee’s mandate is to advise the Department Head on the specific opportunities and challenges facing the Department with regard to EDIA, and to develop an action plan which will promote a culture that values and supports the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism amongst Department faculty, staff and learners.

Our Committee members are listed on our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion webpage, which will be updated as the Department develops its initiatives in EDIA; the Committee’s Terms of Reference will also be shared on the webpage once it is finalized. In the meantime, please follow the UBC Psychiatry EDIA Committee updates included in our weekly Communications Bulletin.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY INDIGENOUS STRATEGY COMMITTEE

The Indigenous Strategy Committee, Co-chaired by Dr. Eduardo Chachamovich and Dr. Nel Wieman, has been established to support the Department’s objectives to expand collaboration and cooperation with Indigenous partners and communities, advance reconciliation, and promote equitable treatment and representation in Indigenous mental health research, education and clinical care. The Committee will act as an advisory body to the Department Head on a range of tasks, including exploring and leveraging Indigenous partnerships for collaboration on strategy development,  aligning efforts with existing Indigenous strategies at UBC and across health authorities, navigating challenges around data governance and publication in Indigenous health research, and incorporating Indigenous mental health training into medical education and ensuring cultural competency in mental health care. A new Indigenous Initiatives webpage has been created, where you may view the membership of this Committee.

The individuals on these two committees were selected through a nomination/self-nomination process and in consideration of their personal experience, principles of EDIA, and relevant areas of expertise. On behalf of the Department, I wish to thank each member for their willingness to serve on these critically important committees and for their guidance and commitment to supporting the Department as it enhances its role in the advancement of EDIA and Indigenous mental health.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham, MBBS, FRCPC, MRCPsych (UK), MBA (Exec)                       
Professor and Head, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Director, Institute of Mental Health, UBC
Regional Head and Program Medical Director, VCH/PHC

The UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office respectfully acknowledges the land on which we live, work and play is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh).

Register by Thursday, August 22!

The annual Welcome Back BBQ is back again this year in Vancouver and the Okanagan. It is a chance for faculty and staff to enjoy a complimentary BBQ lunch, live entertainment and build connections with colleagues and community partners.

Previously a staff-only event in Vancouver, this year’s BBQ will bring both faculty and staff together for the first time.

The event will be held on Aug. 29 at UBC Okanagan, and on Sept. 11 at UBC Vancouver. Visit UBC Today’s Welcome Back BBQ page for more details.

Registration Deadline: Thursday, August 22, 2024

We look forward to seeing you at the BBQ!

Registration for the UBC Vancouver BBQ

Registration for the September 11 Vancouver BBQ is department-specific. Department of Psychiatry Faculty and Staff, please register via the online registration form, here:

Location: Flagpole Plaza, 6300 Crescent Road

*Event wristbands for pre-registered attendees will be issued and available from the Department of Psychiatry’s Administration Office, second floor in the Detwiller Pavilion one week before the event. An email will be sent to you when wristbands are ready for pickup.

Registration for the UBC Okanagan BBQ

Register online for the August 29 Okanagan BBQ is available directly through the Okanagan Campus website, here…

For any questions regarding registration for the Welcome Back BBQ or about collecting your event wristband, please contact UBC Department of Psychiatry Administrative Assistant to Division Heads, Terena Zhao at terena.zhao@ubc.ca

Missed Registering?
Staff & faculty who have missed the registration deadline are welcome to join the BBQ festivities, and can visit the “BBQ Registration” table on the day of the event. Please bring your UBCcard with you for verification. We will do our best to accommodate day-of registration, however, a wrist band for food cannot be guaranteed.