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Transforming youth mental health: a Canadian perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2015

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: [email protected])

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.

Type
Perspective
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2015 

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