By: Yifeng Wei Magda Szumilas Stan Kutcher
Our Vision To help improve the mental health of youth by the effective translation and transfer of the best available scientific knowledge.
Sun Life Financial Chair
Why Youth?
In Adolescent Mental Health
Burden of Illness (Disability Adjusted Life Years) DALYs attributed to selected causes by age, 2000, WHO 0 – 9 years
10 – 19 years
Neuro‐psychiatric conditions (including self‐inflicted injuries)
12
29
Malignant Neoplasms
3
5
Cardiovascular Diseases
2
4
Adapted from: World Health Organization (2003). Caring for children and adolescents with mental disorders. Setting WHO directions. Page 3, Figure 1. World: DALYs in 2000 attributable to selected causes, by age and sex.
Adolescent Mental Health in Canada
In Canada, approximately 10-20% of adolescents suffer from some form of mental disorder, but only 1 in 5 of those in need receive care.
Source: Canadian Mental Health Association
Why Schools? Promoting the health of children and adolescents in schools has been an important goal of WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, and other international agencies since the 1950s. The school environment offers a relatively simple and costeffective way of reaching youth, since most young people spend at least 30 hours a week in the classroom. The school is also a place where mental health can be linked with other aspects of health, such as physical health, nutrition, sexual health.
Model Pathway to Care – Integrating a Public Health Approach with Clinical Care Mental health promotion Early identification Triage Intervention Continuing care
School Mental Health Model Goals To promote mental health and reduce stigma through enhancing the mental health literacy of students, educators and parents. To address prevention and promote appropriate and timely care through early identification, triage and evidence-supported sitebased mental health interventions. To enhance formal linkages between schools and appropriate health care providers (primary/specialty) To provide a framework in which students receiving mental health care can be seamlessly supported in their educational needs within usual school settings.
Model Components
Mental health curriculum “Go-to” educator training Student services provider training Primary care provider training Upgrading for mental health services providers Parent/family/community outreach Creation of pathways to care Integration of mental health & education services Evaluation
School Mental Health Model COMMUNITY
SCHOOL PARENTS
STAKEHOLDERS POLICY MAKERS
MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY ADMINISTRATORS
MENTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM
STUDENTS
TEACHERS
STUDENT SERVICES PROVIDERS
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDERS MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTRE PROVIDERS GATEKEEPER TRAINING
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS
Model Evaluation KAB (Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour) model to be applied to students, teachers and care providers Testing at baseline and 3, 6 months follow-up Process evaluation to record the number of students seen through the referral mechanism Focus group interviews
Pilot Testing of the Model South Shore Region, NS
Digby County, NS
South Regional School Board Forest Heights Community School Department of Education/ Schools Plus South Shore District Health Authority Community outreach (parent/family)
Tri-county Regional School Board 2-3 high schools in Digby Department of education Digby Health Authority Digby Mental Health Volunteers Association Community services
Mental Health & High School Curriculum Guide
Designed in 2007 in partnership with CMHA Piloted in four high schools across Canada Revised in 2009 and ready for dissemination 2010 Will be officially launched early next year Available in hard copy and on website Consists of six modules and a teacher self-study module
Mental Health & High School Curriculum Guide Promote students’ awareness of mental health, mental disorders and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness Contribute to a safe and supportive environment in which all students can maximize their learning Be accessible and responsive to students’ needs Help students differentiate distress from disorder Identify those students in particular need of assistance or support (self or peer identification)
Sun Life Financial Chair In Adolescent Mental Health
Sun Life Financial Chair In Adolescent Mental Health
Understanding Depression and Suicide Training for educators that addresses signs and symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses, risk factors for suicide and methods of identification and appropriate referral of high-risk youth. Health provider training to recognize, treat, and monitor patients who are suffering from depression and to most effectively evaluate and monitor ongoing suicide risk.
Sun Life Financial Chair In Adolescent Mental Health
Understanding Depression and Suicide Since April 2007, Over 700 health providers and educators from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario have participated Average knowledge gains of 20 – 24% after training Very positive reviews with regards to Usefulness of information provided Enjoyment of workshop Speaker quality Applicability of information and concepts to job Recommendation of workshop to colleagues
Sun Life Financial Chair In Adolescent Mental Health
Our Website
www.teenmentalhealth.org