IIMHL Questions and Answers

What is the ‘Network Meeting'?
Who are MH leaders?
Who can become an IIMHL member?
Can I join as an individual?
How can I get the best out of attending the exchange?
Does IIMHL fund projects?
Does IIMHL provide other services besides the IIMHL Leadership Exchange?
What is the difference between IIMHL and IIDL?
How do countries choose who can attend the Exchange and Network Meeting?
Other questions

What is the ‘Network Meeting'?

IIMHL used to call this a ‘Working Conference' but feedback from participants suggested that it would be better to enable continuity from the exchanges by strengthening networking among people who attend, as well as focus on local input and inspirational leadership presentations. Thus the change of name is to reflect such changes.

Who are MH leaders?

IIMHL has a wide view of who is a leader from CEO's and Clinical Directors to leaders of national consumer and culturally based services. We focus our leadership exchanges on mental health and substance abuse leaders who have key decision making authority to help create innovative leadership and assist in developing strong ongoing leadership within the sector.

Who can become an IIMHL member?

IIMHL invites leaders of mental health organizations or government departments (based on their country's design of their mental health system) to complete an online survey. This enables IIMHL the data to link people together accurately. Some leaders ask a staff member to complete the survey on their behalf. This survey then allows all of those organizations leaders to be linked to IIMHL adding staff names to the organizations survey. There are many unique structures within IIMHL sponsoring countries so if you are unsure how to proceed please contact Erin Geaney erin "at" iimhl.com

Can I join as an individual?

As participants are paid by their organisations to attend, you can only join if you are a leader working within a mental health or substance abuse organization regardless of size and structure. You need to complete an online survey as a provider or non provider. As there are leadership students who are interested in IIMHL, we encourage training programmes to join IIMHL and list their leadership students under their staff list.

How can I get the best out of attending the exchange?

People in the past have found that the following factors have led to a great exchange:

Completing the online registration form so that your role and areas of interest are clear (this helps match you with an appropriate group)
Please note that in 2010 the process for matching hosts and visitors will be different, with visitors self-selecting where they would like to go. Please look at the Republic of Ireland’s information on the IIMHL website www.iimhl.com.
When you are notified that you are ‘matched' contact your "host" leader early and state clearly what you would like to learn from the exchange: (e.g. evaluation of youth mental health services or, recovery-focused crisis services etc.); you might also like to state that you would like to do a presentation for local staff on for example New Zealand's mental health system or your own service or other key issues (e.g. peer support services); plus any special needs that you might have (e.g. dietary or mobility issues).
Stay connected to your matched group so that everyone can learn together
Some matches have continued working together for years: consider collaborative activities that you can work on together (e.g. writing a report for publication).

Does IIMHL fund projects?

No. IIMHL does not fund or manage projects within any of the IIMHL Sponsoring countries. The governments of each participating country (i.e. Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and the US) pay a small amount to fund IIMHL's administration. IIMHL facilitates activities and information sharing between participants in the annual Leadership Exchange and Network Meeting. There is no project funding.

Does IIMHL provide other services besides the IIMHL Leadership Exchange?

IIMHL facilitates knowledge transfer in linking people and innovations between countries. These innovations may be evidence based but more often are promising practices. Please see our annual reports for examples of how we facilitate and assist innovations being transferred between countries. Many Exchange partners choose to work together in an ongoing way to do joint projects, service reviews or research. These are funded through the governments or organisations involved.

What is the difference between IIMHL and IIDL?

IIDL is a separate but linked group which focuses on issues for people with physical and/or learning disabilities. They are endeavoring to establish an international group so leaders can learn from each other about disability best practice.

How do countries choose who can attend the Exchange and Network Meeting?

Currently each country has their own process for this. All seven countries have agreed that the total number should be capped at 450. The country hosting the Network Meeting may have additional people attending the Network Meeting as often government officials and/or local leaders attend. Other countries may have a first come, first served structure.