Engaging Youth in a Mental Health System Improvement Initiative in Ontario: Developing the Be Safe Resource
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
30 June 2017
Abstract
Youth engagement can improve the accessibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of programs and resources for youth. Little is known about youth engagement in system-level initiatives. As part of Systems Improvement through Service Collaboratives, an Ontario initiative that aimed to improve the system of care for youth with mental health or addictions needs, youth and adults in London, Ontario partnered to co-create Be Safe. The Be Safe resource helps youth manage mental health crises and identify local services. This article showcases a youth-adult partnership in a system-level initiative, and highlights a replicable strategy for developing resources relevant to youth needs and preferences.
Resumen
La mobilisation des jeunes peut contribuer à améliorer l’accessibilité, l’efficacité et la durabilité des programmes et des ressources destinés à la jeunesse. Or, nous en savons très peu sur la mobilisation des jeunes dans les projets mis en place à l’échelle du système de santé mentale. Dans le cadre du projet Améliorer les systèmes grâce aux projets de services axés sur la collaboration, créé en Ontario et visant à améliorer le système de soins pour les jeunes ayant des besoins reliés à des problèmes de santé mentale ou de toxicomanie, des jeunes et des adultes de London ont créé, en partenariat, une application mobile appelée Be Safe. Cette application aide les jeunes à gérer les crises en santé mentale et à trouver les ressources dont ils ont besoin. Dans cet article, les auteurs présentent ce partenariat créé par des jeunes et des adultes dans le cadre d’un projet mis en place à l’échelle du système de santé mentale, et ils montrent ainsi comment ce type de stratégie peut être reproduit pour permettre de concevoir et de mettre en place des ressources qui correspondent aux besoins et aux préférences des jeunes.
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Information & Authors
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Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 36 • Number 2 • October 2017
Pages: 121 - 131
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Version of record online: 30 June 2017
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Deanna Huggett, Andrea Flynn, Alexia Jaouich, Melissa Taylor-Gates, and Scarlett Davidson. 2017. Engaging Youth in a Mental Health System Improvement Initiative in Ontario: Developing the Be Safe Resource. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
36(2): 121-131. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2017-019
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