Mental illness and substance use are prevalent worldwide and there are striking similarities in symptoms across many populations and countries. At the same time, there is wide variation in treatment and supports around the globe. These different approaches offer unique opportunities to compare practices and strategies, exchange ideas, and build on what we know to foster quality improvement.

The National Council introduced the International Exchange Program in 2008 to explore and better understand the healthcare systems and range of services available outside the United States, and to provide educational opportunities for senior and emerging leaders. Participants may include CEOs, board members, department heads, clinical, administrative and managerial leaders from behavioral healthcare organizations in the U.S. National Council members may also apply to be host organizations when participants visit from other nations.

Program partners are the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network, in partnership with the Care Services Improvement Partnership and the National Institute for Mental Health in England; Integrated Mental Health Services for Eindhoven, Geestelijke GeezondheisZorg Eindhoven en de Kampen – GGzE in the Netherlands; and the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership.

The program has three primary objectives:

• To facilitate learning about organizational, clinical, and financing practices across international mental health and substance use treatment systems.
• To promote the exchange of service improvement strategies, including the adoption of science advances and the application of information technologies.
• To encourage the development of global leaders.
  
   

Completed and Upcoming Programs

National Council members  visited the U.K.  in September 2008 and Netherlands in October 2008 as  part of the International Exchange  Program. Another delegation will visit Australia/New Zealand March 2-6, 2009. Industry colleagues from these countries are also hosted in the United States to encourage further networking and learning opportunities. Watch this page for future travel locations and dates.

Netherlands host Klaas Schilder, Strategic Consultant, Council of Governing Board, GGzE, noted that "Attention to healthcare in the Netherlands is often focused on policies that widely differ from those in the US. For example: marijuana, euthanasia, or free heroin for addicts. These examples reflect a wide spectrum of debate and policy development resulting in new service programs. The exchange program focused on the debates that lead to behavioral health policies in the Netherlands. Participants were given a unique opportunity to engage with providers on how and why services are established, who treatments target, and service implementation."

Participants

Participants are matched with overseas partner organizations in selected countries based upon their interests and expertise. They travel to the host countries where they learn about healthcare policy and service delivery; engage in conversations and exercises that introduce new ideas, concepts, and programs; and create invaluable virtual networks with colleagues from around the world.

They are exposed to strategies promoting consumer and family engagement designed to increase access, adherence, and retention in services; learn about scientific advances in prevention, early intervention, and treatment; and become acquainted with the position of behavioral health within overall health. They also have the opportunity to learn more about the overall healthcare system, as well as the policies of the host nation.

U.S. participants and other National Council members have the opportunity to volunteer as hosts. Consequently, participants should have a commitment to ongoing networking with others in the program.

Benefits

Participating organizations can use the International Exchange Program opportunity to validate the dedication and commitment of senior employees, to enhance their profile as a groundbreaking organization committed to improving their own performance, and to contribute to the development of an international knowledge base for the improvement of mental health and substance use services.

National Council member, Dennis Morrison, PhD, CEO of the Centerstone Research Institute in Bloomington, IN says "When I considered going on my first exchange, I didn’t know what to expect and whether the activities in Tees, England would have any relevance to those in Bloomington, Indiana. My “pitch” to my Board was that this seemed like a good idea but I really didn’t know what to expect. Now, having participated in several of these, I can say that the main benefits have been in two areas: 1) We don’t know what we don’t know and 2) We have cultural blinders on that we’re not aware of.  The ideas that I got from my international exchange partners addressed the same problems we all face but they came at it very differently. The solutions they proposed were often so radically different from what I anticipated that it was a true 'thinking outside the box' experience. If you are someone who values creative and often very different solutions, this experience is worth it.

Logistics

Participants are responsible for the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals. This includes booking you flights into and out of a specific city (London, Amsterdam, etc.). Hotel accommodations will be centrally booked, lodging participants in a group together wherever possible. There is no additional program fee.

Day 1 is typically be spent in a single group and the day is dedicated to an overview of the host nation’s behavioral healthcare system. Days 2-5 are spent in smaller groups at host agencies within short travel times from the main city. You are assigned to the small groups based on your expressed interest areas.

Questions? Contact Kara Sweeney at KaraS@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.7457, ext. 223.