Youth mental health is an area that has been identified as a priority by the Mental Health
Commission of Canada and other health promotion entities due to a number of
indicators, including:
- The relatively high estimated prevalence of MH disorders in British Columbia of 15% (Waddell and Shepherd 2002).
- The importance of early intervention in promoting mental wellbeing: For more than 70% of Canadian adults living with mental illness, onset occurred before 18 years of age. (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2008).
- Less than one-third of children under age 18 who have a serious mental health problem receive any mental health services (The Science of Mental Illness, 2007).
- Youth are poorly equipped to recognize MH disorders, yet are most likely to seek help from peers (Kelly et al 2007).
Thus increasing MH literacy among youth is an urgent goal. The HYM hopes to address
this discrepancy by creating workshops developed and delivered by students of
healthcare professions. This project thus aims to allow health professional students to
develop their skills as health advocates in a population with identified need, while
continually emphasizing socially accountable and evidence-based practices.
Youth involvement is important in the development and evaluation of youth targeted
programs (Kelly et al 2007). This project will be guided by youth-focused, participatory
methodologies. Our approach recognizes that youth are the experts of their own
experience. Their knowledge and ideas relating to MH are thus needed to maximize the
project’s relevancy and impact.
70% of Canadian adults living with mental illness, onset occurred before 18 years
of age. (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2008).
- Less than one-third of children under age 18 who have a serious mental health problem receive any mental health services (The Science of Mental Illness, 2007).
- Youth are poorly equipped to recognize MH disorders, yet are most likely to seek help from peers (Kelly et al 2007).
Thus increasing MH literacy among youth is an urgent goal. The HYM hopes to address
this discrepancy by creating workshops developed and delivered by students of
healthcare professions. This project thus aims to allow health professional students to
develop their skills as health advocates in a population with identified need, while
continually emphasizing socially accountable and evidence-based practices.
Youth involvement is important in the development and evaluation of youth targeted
programs (Kelly et al 2007). This project will be guided by youth-focused, participatory
methodologies. Our approach recognizes that youth are the experts of their own
experience. Their knowledge and ideas relating to MH are thus needed to maximize the
project’s relevancy and impact.
REFERENCES
- Waddell, C. and Shepherd C. “Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Children and Youth: A Research Update Prepared for the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development.” Mental Health Evaluation & Community Consultation Unit 2002, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine UBC.
- Kelly, C.M., Jorm, A.F. and Wright, A. “Improving mental health literacy as a strategy to facilitate early intervention for mental disorders.” The medical Journal of Australia 2007; 187 (7): S26-S30.
- Mental Health & High School Curriculum Guide: Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness. Canadian Medical Health Association. 2007. www.cmha.ca/highschoolcurriculum/
- The Science of Mental Illness, National Institute of Mental Health, 2006.
- Countering Stigma and Discrimination: Operational Plan: Version 3. Mental Health Commission of Canada. September 2008.