If you’re a parent, teacher, or student, chances are you’ve heard about the importance of youth health mental health. But many young people are not receiving the mental health support they need. Thankfully, there are a number of resources available to help. Listed below are some resources you can check out to learn more about this important topic. We all have a role to play in creating a world where young people are happy and thrive.
More than one in five adolescents suffer from some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Mental illnesses affect more than one-third of people in this age group and account for 13% of the global burden of disease. Anxiety, depression, and behavioural disorders are the leading causes of illness in adolescents. Sadly, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in this age group. If not treated early, mental health conditions can have negative consequences in both physical and social lives.
AIM’s global Scientific Advisory Board convened with key stakeholders in the mental health field to discuss issues related to early intervention and disseminate best practices for youth. You can watch the videos of five of the presentations from this retreat. Aim has been committed to improving access to mental health care for children and youth, and we are making progress. So please check out these resources and spread the word about youth mental health! You’ll be glad you did.
As young adults age, mental health care becomes increasingly important. There is a need for targeted programs for adolescents and young adults, as these individuals are in a unique developmental stage. Youth mental health care programs should address the needs of these young adults, including issues of equity, access, and stigma. If these challenges are addressed early, they can significantly reduce the chances of a young person developing a mental illness. So, how do we make youth mental health effective?
PHNs can implement a series of strategies to improve the accessibility of mental health services. For example, partnerships with local community groups and refugee communities may prove useful. In addition to establishing relationships with local community leaders, they should develop culturally inclusive culture and foster service quality. Lastly, they should consider the physical environment of their facilities to be youth-friendly and welcoming. Finally, they should also make it affordable and accessible for young people, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. Lastly, it is important to include young people from refugee backgrounds in the design of these services.
The Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program was developed to help youth address their concerns. This interactive program encourages increased discussion about mental health issues and enables youth to develop problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence. The five-session program is an interactive one that incorporates role-playing and cognitive-emotional learning into an enjoyable and effective program. The CDRC team has reached over 14,500 youth in 29 schools across nine countries, and is now training more facilitators to expand the program into more schools. The goal is to make youth aware of mental health in school environments.
If you’re a caring adult, becoming a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certified can help you understand common mental health issues facing young people. You’ll also learn about typical adolescent development and how to identify signs of a crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid covers such topics as depression, eating disorders, and substance use. It also covers psychosis. If you’re a parent or caregiver, you can help young people access the services they need.
The Biden-Harris Administration has made a priority of integrating mental health services into schools. To help schools implement mental health services, the Department of Education has announced a new resource, “Improving the Access to Youth Mental Health in School
Virtual care has emerged as a viable way to provide mental health services to children. While equity and accessibility issues are still important, utilizing technology to deliver mental health services can improve engagement and participation for many children. Until COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care services were largely limited in Ontario, with efforts focused on remote and rural areas. During this time, however, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid shift to virtual care and suspension of in-person mental health services.