Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) Matters

1. Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) Matters Psychosocial Rehabilitation/Réadaptation Psychosociale Canada National Conference Dr. Simon Davidson Chair, Child and Youth Advisory CommitteeMental Health Commission of Canada;Chief Strategic Planning Executive, Centre of Excellence for Child & Youth Mental Health at CHEO Ottawa, September 23, 2010

2. Presentation Outline • Facts about CYMH • The Child and Youth Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada • Discussion

3. Facts About Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) • 13-22% prevalence • > 70% adults have onset < 18 • One in six children and youth with mental health problems get service! It (mental health and mental illness) all begins with children and youth

4. Child and Youth Advisory Committee (CYAC) of MHCC ‘The orphan of the orphan’ ….NO LONGER! • 16 member Committee • Across the age spectrum from prenatal to age 25 *family & youth centredness • *maternal & family health

5. MHCC – CYAC Funded Initiatives* • National Mental Health Strategy • Evergreen Document • School-based mental health initiative • Antistigma, Antidiscrimination Campaign Youth Council Family Unit Self Stigma • CYMH Knowledge Mobilization *collaboration and engagement across Canada encouraged whenever possible *will be ongoing investments over time

6. Evergreen: A Child & Youth Mental Health Framework for Canada Purpose To develop a national framework specific to child and youth mental health as a tool to inform and guide the creation, development and/or adaptation of child and youth mental health policies and plans Priority area : Mental Health Strategy Methods Guided by Evergreen committees: Drafting Committee (DC), National Advisory Committee (NAC) and International Advisory Committee (IAC) Multiple online public consultations Deliverables Evergreen Framework document Online resource library comprised of key scientific and policy papers Socialtext project template for future iterations of Evergreen Anticipated completion date: June, 2010

7. School - Based Mental Health & Addictions Purpose • To provide practitioners and policy makers in education, health, child welfare and related organizations and agencies with a variety of policy and practice options for the delivery of school-based mental health and addictions (SBMHA) services from promotion through treatment Priority area:Mental Health Strategy and Knowledge Exchange • This project consists of four components: • Review of the national and international literature on frameworks and best practices in each major component of school-based interventions (i.e. promotion, prevention, early intervention and treatment) • Environmental scanof existing programs and services in Canada • National survey of school districts to document current practices as well as perceived needs • Knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) is integral throughout the process of the project, and will culminate with an interactive, national stakeholders Symposium Anticipated completion date: December, 2011

8. Family Unit Self Stigma Purpose • To assess and develop strategies to address self-stigma in child and youth with mental illness or disorders, and their families (including siblings, parents, and other family members and caregivers) Priority area: Opening Minds Methods • Qualitative methods using focus groups of caregivers, siblings and youth with mental health problems; also include • Survey of youths with mental health issues • Thematic content analysis of popular media Deliverables • Recommendations about the ways to combat self and family stigma • Community report for participating and related agencies • Youth report written by youths Anticipated completion date: October, 2011

9. Child & Youth Mental Health Knowledge Mobilization Purpose To create Knowledge Mobilization (KM) processes and products that serve as the basis for a broad KM initiative in child and youth mental health, focusing on youth and providing a forum to promote positive mental health and support de-stigmatization. Priority area:Knowledge Exchange Centre and Opening Minds Goals/Objectives To determine the most effective methods/approaches (e.g. look and feel) for a KM strategy in child & youth mental health To develop KM activities that include youth participation and will optimize youth engagement To create a mechanism to link projects and leverage opportunities with existing initiatives (e.g. Opening Minds), as well as building content towards the broader KEC of the MHCC To establish a KM process whereby users have the ability to synthesize, translate and exchange information Methods & Completion Date To be determined (Request for Proposals in development)

10. Youth Council of the MHCC Purpose • To provide the youth voice and be a resource for youth related work within the Commission Mission Statement • The Youth Council is an innovative group of young people providing a strong voice within the MHCC for youth affected by mental health issues and their families. Membership • Youth age of 17 to 25 from across Canada, have had life experience with mental health problems or mental illness, including • Diverse backgrounds (e.g. age and gender, place of residence, cultural background, First Nations/Métis/Inuit background, linguistic background) • Sibling or family member of persons with mental illness, • Experience with child welfare system, gay/lesbian/transgender issues, and youth at risk with issues in housing, addictions, justice, etc.

11. Mental Health and Mental Illness and Addictions all begins with Children and Youth! Thank you for your attention