Lay Summary

What we propose: We propose to use multiple Canadian data sources and linkages to establish the requisite information required to monitor mental health and associated service use among Canadian children and youth with the goal of supporting mental health policy. What we did: Our team developed a framework containing the essential components required to understand, organize, and evaluate surveillance of population mental health and mental health care among children and youth in Canada. Why it’s important: The goals of this work are to: 1) produce evidence that best serves mental health policy makers; 2) establish best practices for the use of Canadian data to inform policy makers; 3) create a platform for advancing research.

Background

Over the past decade, there has been increasing mental health needs, associated impairment, and gaps in service use among children and youth. Despite these concerning trends, many countries have yet to establish a coordinated and systematic approach for mental health surveillance among children and youth at a national level. We propose to leverage the strengths of multiple Canadian data sources and linkages to establish the requisite theoretical and analytical infrastructure to monitor mental health and associated service use among Canadian children and youth to support policy makers, health system planning and iterative evaluations.

Methods

Guided by population health surveillance theory, we have developed a framework containing the essential components required to understand, organize, and evaluate a population health surveillance process: 1) identifying an information need; 2) formulating a health problem; 3) planning for surveillance; 4) implementing surveillance; 5) communicating information and auditing and iterating.

Results

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Conclusion

By leveraging existing Canadian data and establishing the necessary pre-requisites for a public health surveillance system our goals are to: 1) develop a prototype tool that best serves mental health policy makers; 2) establish best practices for the evaluation, appraisal, and use of data to inform current surveillance efforts and future mental health data collection; 3) create a platform for advancing research-public health policy and practice.