EVOLUTION OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CANADA: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY-BASED MODELS
EVOLUSI LAYANAN KESEHATAN MENTAL REMAJA DI KANADA: ANALISIS KUALITATIF MODEL BERBASIS KOMUNITAS
Keywords:
youth mental health; community-based services; service integration; quali-tative research; CanadaAbstract
This study examines the evolution of community-based mental health services for youth in Canada, focusing on innovative models that have emerged in response to the growing mental health crisis among adolescents and young adults. Through qualitative research methods including in-depth interviews with 27 stakeholders and participant observation at 5 youth mental health centers, this study identifies key factors contributing to successful integration of services, barriers to implementation, and promising practices for enhancing accessibility and effectiveness. Findings reveal that successful youth mental health programs feature youth participation in governance, low-barrier access points, integration with digital technologies, and culturally responsive approaches. The study also highlights persistent challenges including funding instability, workforce shortages, and geographical disparities in service provision. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on comprehensive mental health service delivery models for vulnerable youth populations and provides recommendations for policy development and practice enhancement in similar contexts internationally.
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