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Transforming youth mental health: a Canadian perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2015

S. N. Iyer ,
P. Boksa ,
S. Lal ,
J. Shah ,
G. Marandola ,
G. Jordan ,
M. Doyle ,
R. Joober  and
A. K. Malla
S. N. Iyer*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada ACCESS-Canada, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
P. Boksa
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
S. Lal
Affiliation:
Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
J. Shah
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
G. Marandola
Affiliation:
ACCESS-Canada, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
G. Jordan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
M. Doyle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada ACCESS-Canada, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
R. Joober
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
A. K. Malla
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP-Montreal), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada ACCESS-Canada, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
*
*Address for correspondence: S. N. Iyer, Ph.D., Douglas Mental Health University Institute, ACCESS-Canada, 6625 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada. (Email: srividya.iyer@douglas.mcgill.ca)
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Abstract

In most mental illnesses, onset occurs before the age of 25 and the earliest stages are critical. The youth bear a large share of the burden of disease associated with mental illnesses. Yet, Canadian youths with mental health difficulties face delayed detection; long waiting lists; inaccessible, unengaging services; abrupt transitions between services; and, especially in remoter regions, even a complete lack of services. Responding to this crisis, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research announced a 5-year grant that was awarded to ACCESS, a pan-Canadian network of youths, families, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, community organisations and Indigenous communities. Using strategies developed collaboratively by all stakeholders, ACCESS will execute a youth mental healthcare transformation via early detection, rapid access and appropriate, high-quality care. The project includes an innovative, mixed-methods service research component. Similar in many respects to other national youth mental health initiatives, ACCESS also exhibits important differences of scale, scope and approach.

Keywords

Canadaearly interventionmental health services developmentmulti-stakeholder engagementyouth mental health
Type
Perspective
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 1: Special Issue: Youth Mental Health , March 2015 , pp. 51 - 60
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2015 

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