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Dear Subscribers,
As you know, our primary goal is to facilitate development of integrated youth mental health services in a stigma free environment across Canada. It is gratifying to see that momentum continues to build at a rapid rate and it is evident that this will continue.
In this issue, we highlight some recent developments. The new pan-Canadian and international knowledge translation platform in youth mental health was officially launched last month. In addition, five more ACCESS OM sites were publicly launched. Two of these sites are in First Nations communities.
We also highlight the IAYMH 4th international conference on youth mental health, to be held on September 24 - 26 in Dublin, Ireland. The programme is entitled “Future– Proofing Youth Mental Health ".
Graham Boeckh Foundation
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Launch of Canada-based International Knowledge Translation Platform in Youth Mental Health
Dr. Steve Mathias, Co-Scientific Director, HYPE; Joël Lightbound, Parliamentary Secretary for Health; Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary for Science; Dr. Zul Merali, President & CEO, The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research; and Dr. Ian Manion, Co-Scientific Director, HYPE
GBF is supporting and helping to fund a recently launched international knowledge translation platform in youth mental health (IKTP-YMH). The initiative is the result of the 2017 Networks of Centres of Excellence International Knowledge Translation Platforms competition ( NCE-IKTP), an investment by the Government of Canada into networks that will share knowledge and best practices and mobilize society to implement them.
With over 100 partners in nine different countries, the IKTP-YMH program offers a unique opportunity to consolidate efforts to advance the implementation of integrated stepped care for youth, strength-based approaches and youth and family engagement. Key stakeholders of the network include youth and families, service providers, researchers, policy-makers, philanthropy and other non-government and not-for-profit organizations.
The administration of the network will be based at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and co-lead by scientific directors Drs. Ian Manion and Steve Mathias. The project has secured total funding of $8.4M, whereby the federal government will contribute $1.6M over the next four years. Other funding commitments, including from philanthropy, will provide $2.2M in cash and $4.6M of in-kind support.
In addition to the IKTP initiative, GBF also supports other projects focused on youth mental health that have integrated stepped care at their core: ACCESS Open Minds, Foundry BC, as well the youth wellness hubs initiative in Ontario and a project in Québec. The new IKTP network will provide an overarching framework, that a) mobilizes existing capacity, b) supports a pan-Canadian strategy in youth mental health, and c) convenes and mobilizes key players and stakeholders in the field both in Canada and internationally.
With a stated vision to “ support systems of care where youth get the mental health and addictions help they need when they need it” and a mission to “ facilitate local action, national collaboration and international knowledge mobilization to improve mental health and addictions outcomes for youth”, the IKTP-YMH will become an important network supporting youth mental health systems reform.
We invite you to read the press release from the Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research.
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ACCESS Open Minds Opens Edmonton and Sturgeon Lake Sites
Edmonton Site
On April 6th, 2017, the ACCESS Open Minds Edmonton site held their official launch. The event, with well over 200 people in attendance, gained significant local media attention, including an article on the front page of the Edmonton Sun. The event was organized and MC’d by youth, and speakers included a family member, a youth, an official from Alberta Health Services, a city councillor, a clinician and Rob Boeckh from GBF (see photo below).
The GBF team also had the opportunity to tour the site, located at the Bill Rees YMCA. The local team (see photo below) presented the counselling rooms and spoke of the value of having ACCESS clinicians who can go out to meet young people in the community to help navigate the various services to care.
Further information and media coverage on the launch can be found here.
Sturgeon Lake, Saskatchewan Site
In the presence of more than 100 community members, as well as local and regional leaders, ACCESS Open Minds Sturgeon Lake First Nation officially opened its doors on
May 26, 2017. The Iron Swing Youth Drum Group and Youth Pow wow dancers opened the ceremony, which concluded with a cutting of the hide to officially open the youth space. More information about the event can be found here.
Youth and dignitaries from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Prince Albert Grand Council were on hand to cut the leather on the new Youth Space on May 26.
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ACCESS Open Minds Announces Partnerships with Three Community Organizations in New Brunswick
Representatives from ACCESS NB and its three community partners
May 4, 2017: ACCESS Open Minds New Brunswick announced partnerships with three provincial community organizations that will enable them to open their doors to young people struggling with mental health challenges and improve access to integrated mental health care:
(1)The Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc.;
(2) P.E.E.R SJ (Saint John); and
(3) the Elsipogtog First Nation community
More information on the launch of the New Brunswick sites can be found here.
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2017 Dr. Samarthji Lal Award for Mental Health Research: Dr. Gabriella Gobbi
The Graham Boeckh Foundation congratulates Dr. Gabriella Gobbi on winning the seventh annual Dr. Samarthji Lal award for mental health research.
Dr. Gobbi is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, whose work is dedicated to bridging clinical psychiatry and basic psychopharmacology research. Her main contributions have been in the field of cannabinoids and melatonin receptors. One of the many successes in her career was the important discovery by her laboratory of the link between adolescent cannabis consumption and the risk of depression. “This research was socially important inspiring several governments to have more restrictive laws ….”-Dr. Gabriella Gobbi, MD, PhD.
The full interview is available on our website: http://grahamboeckhfoundation.org/dr-gabriella-gobbi-receives-2017-dr-sam-lal-award/
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IAYMH 4th International Conference on Youth Mental Health
Registration is now open for the 4th International Conference on Youth Mental Health. The Conference brings together leaders from around the world who are dedicated to creating positive change in youth mental health. At the core of that change is young people. Through youth engagement at every possible level, IAYMH is working towards making sure that the Conference empowers young people to make a difference.
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