Ottawa, ON – The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) today released the Executive Summary of their upcoming report Taking the Next Step Forward: Building a Responsive Mental Health and Addictions System for Emerging Adults*. Developed in partnership with a research team from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), this report will detail the current state of policies and practices in the area of youth transitioning from child and youth to adult mental health and addiction services.
“The aim of the report is to advance recommendations for a more seamless continuum of services for emerging adults,” said Louise Bradley, President & CEO of the MHCC, adding that, “this continuum is one that is supported by the MHCC’s Changing Directions Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada.”
Taking the Next Step Forward builds an impressive case for:
- why emerging adults matter as a designated population within the broader field of child and youth mental health;
- how transition policies might be adapted from existing international and provincial/territorial best practices and evidence-based policies; and,
- how new policies on the provincial/territorial and regional levels will help advance service delivery for emerging adults.
In releasing Taking the Next Step Forward, the MHCC and CHEO are adding to a rapidly growing conversation about transition age youth and mental health and addiction services across Canada. Lead CHEO researchers Simon Davidson, Jenny Carver, and Mario Cappelli stated; “In partnering with the MHCC on this very important initiative for emerging adults with mental health and addiction problems, our goal is to support all levels of government to align and implement meaningful and comprehensive service and policy changes. The outcome will result in young adults working towards their personal vision of success who are confident, resilient, satisfied and productive Canadian citizens.”
The full text of Taking the Next Step Forward will be released in May 2015 and will be followed by a national consensus conference on the topic of emerging adults. The conference will bring together policy makers, researchers, mental health organizations, clinicians, as well as youth and their families from across Canada. The event will help to develop a more refined vision for how Taking the Next Step Forward, as well as other existing provincial/territorial strategies aimed at addressing issues around emerging adults and youth more generally, will further advance policy and practices.
The Executive Summary may be obtained online here.
-30-
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we create change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca
*”Currently, the term “emerging adult” is increasingly used to describe youth and young adults (ages 16-25). The term highlights the significance of the growth and development during this part of the lifespan. Using the term “emerging” also acknowledges this phase as a dynamic process, rather than a prescribed span of time driven by chronological age.”
Media Contact:
Glenn Johnson, Senior Media Relations Specialist
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Mobile: 1-613-683-3940
gjohnson@mentalhealthcommission.ca
