Youth Mental Health

Research Matters

Improving equitable access to care for youth in vulnerable situations through practice-near research that addresses youth needs and the importance of sharing knowledge.

Improving equitable access to care for youth in vulnerable
situations through practice-near research that addresses
youth needs and the importance of sharing knowledge.

From research to practical knowledge for positive changes in youth mental health service provision.

Our research strives to contribute to the youth mental health landscape in Québec by promoting equitable access to care for youth in vulnerable situations.

Our main research project “Mental health services in youth protection” seeks to better understand how to improve mental health intervention activities in youth protection services to make them more accessible, appropriate, and equitable.

Understanding the challenges

Many children and youth lack timely access to equitable mental healthcare due to barriers such as finding a trusted provider, scheduling, and transportation. Those leaving child welfare services face greater challenges, leading to higher rates of homelessness, judicial issues, and mental health problems.

Learning from the field

Meeting with practitioners, decision makers, managers and youth in both youth protection services and mental health services allows us to get up close to the field and understand how these services are coordinated and used on a day-to-day basis.

Improving quality, equity, and access to services

Mental health and youth protection are services that operate under differing structures. This creates tensions and challenges, but also many have found ways to innovate. Understand what helps and what doesn’t help coordination and communication between youth protection services and youth mental health services.

Research Project

Improving Services for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

This research project aims to identify barriers to accessing services for youth under the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Québec (LSJPA) and to develop practice standards.

Youth involved in the juvenile justice system have greater needs regarding their health, addiction, and mental health services than youth in the general population.

They also face more significant challenges than their peers as they transition into adulthood, including personal, academic, and professional difficulties, as well as higher rates of homelessness.