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Part of Children’s mental health

Children’s mental health learning series

Resources to help caregivers, families and professionals provide support for children and youth with mental health concerns.

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Children’s mental health

Learning series

The children’s mental health learning series, presented in 2014 and 2015, provides caregivers, families and professionals with helpful information to increase knowledge and help support children and youth with mental health concerns. The resources from the learning series are provided below.

  • Part 1 session resources focus on early brain development and environmental impacts in the early years.
  • Part 2 session resources emphasize the adolescent brain and mental health and wellness challenges for youth.
  • No further sessions are planned.

This series was aligned with Creating Connections: Alberta’s Addiction and Mental Health Strategy.

Part 1: Videos and resources

Part 2: Videos and resources

  • Session 1: Understanding the Adolescent Brain

    The teenage brain undergoes tremendous changes – and all too often it is a bumpy ride for the teen and the family. In this talk, we will address: What are the developmental changes in the teen brain? What does that mean for their behaviour (i.e., risk taking, mood)? What can we do as parents to help teens develop resiliency and navigate these years?

    View the video

    Resources in this session:
    Frank MacMaster, PhD
    Cuthbertson and Fischer Chair in Paediatric Mental Health
    Departments of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, University of Calgary
    Behavioural Research Unit, Alberta Children's Hospital
    2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary Alberta T3B  6A8
    Email: [email protected]

  • Session 2: Understanding Youth Mental Illness

    Youth between the ages of 15 to 24 are more likely to suffer from mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group. What puts teens at risk of mental illness? What are the signs to watch out for? What can we do as parents to help teens dealing with mental health issues build resiliency and develop strategies for coping?

    View the video

    Resources in this session:
    Frank MacMaster, PhD
    Cuthbertson and Fischer Chair in Paediatric Mental Health
    Departments of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, University of Calgary
    Behavioural Research Unit, Alberta Children’s Hospital
    2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary Alberta  T3B 6A8
    Email: [email protected]

  • Session 3: Building Resiliency in Children and Adolescents

    Presenter: Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, University of Calgary

    All children and youth have the capacity to develop and demonstrate healthy social and emotional functioning. This session will describe some of the vulnerabilities unique to child and adolescent mental health. The session will recognize the developmental strengths that promote mental health. It will also identify how families, schools, and communities are critical to nurturing these developmental strengths for all children and youth. The session is presented by Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz from the University of Calgary.

    View the video

    Resources in this session:

    Books

    • Benson, P. L. (2006). All kids are our kids: What communities must do to raise caring and responsible children and adolescents. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
    • Furstenberg, F. F., Cook, T. D., Eccles, J, Elder, G. H., & Sameroff, A. (1999). Managing to make it: Urban families and adolescent success. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
    • Ungar, M. (2009). The we generation: Raising socially responsible kids. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.

    Evidence-Based Websites

    Other resources

  • Session 4: Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Children and Adolescents

    Presenter: Dr. Kris Wells, Assistant Professor and Director of Programs & Services, Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services, University of Alberta

    Better understanding of sexual and gender identity can help to protect kids, deter and prevent bullying, and promote inclusion. This session discusses: basic LGBTQ terminology and emerging youth trends, current health disparities, effective interventions and recommendations for developing a more just, ethical, and inclusive practice.

    View the Video

  • Session 5: Managing Children and Adolescents with Severe Anxiety Issues: A Toolbox of Strategies

    Presenter: Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, University of Calgary, University of Calgary Psychological and Educational Services (UCAPES)

    Explore some of the social and personal factors that contribute to the development of anxiety. Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz from the University of Calgary discusses some of the practical strategies that we can use to support children and youth with an anxiety disorder.

    View the Video

    Authors referenced in the session:
    Mash, E.J., & Barkley, R.A. (Eds). (2013). Child psychopathology (3rd edition). New York: The Guildford Press.
    Netherton, S.D., Holmes, D., & Walker, C.E. (Eds) (1999). Child and adolescent psychological disorders. New York: Oxford University Press.
    Ungar, Michael (2007) Too Safe for Their Own Good. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7710-8708-8.

    Resources from the session:
    Anxiety BC
    BC Health Treatment Guideline
    BC Health Treatment Guideline Algorithm
    Dr. Stan Kutcher: Teen Mental Health Organization

  • Session 6: Concurrent Disorders Treatment for Children, Youth and their Families

    Presenter: Bina Nair, MD, FRCPC Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Concurrent Addiction and Mental Health Program (CASA), Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta

    Join Dr. Bina Nair in exploring the impact of concurrent disorders on adolescents and their families, assessment and treatment of concurrent disorders and what recovery might look like for those dealing with addictions and mental health disorders.

    View the Video

    24-hour Helpline at 1-866-332-2322 (in Alberta).

  • Session 7: Connected or Disconnected: When media and social media affect adolescent mental health

    Presenter: Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, University of Calgary

    Explore the pervasiveness of social media in the lives of adolescents and how social media is changing how youth relate to their social world. Also learn about literature on the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent mental health.

    View the Video

    Resources from the session:
    Common Sense Media
    Pew Research Centre
    Kaiser Family Foundations
    Teen Mental Health

    Authors referenced in the session:
    Buckingham, D. (Ed.) (2007). MacArthur Foundation series on digital learning: Youth, identify, and digital media.Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
    Ito, M. et al. (2010). Hanging out, messing around, and geeking out: Kids living and learning with new media.Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
    Turkles, S. (2011). Alone together: why we expect more from technology and less from each other. New York: Basic Book.

  • Session 8: Prevention, Intervention and Postvention of Suicide

    Presenter: Dr. Michael Trew, Chief Addiction and Mental Health Officer, Alberta Health

    Find out the basics of suicide statistics, and learn approaches to universal prevention, early intervention and postvention (dealing with the aftermath of a death by suicide) for youth.

    View the video

    Resources:
    Suicide Prevention Resource Center
    Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention Media Guidelines

  • Session 9: Helping Children and Youth Recover from Eating Disorders

    Presenter: Sue Huff – writer, performer, advocate, community builder and recovered politician

    Hear Sue Huff speak about a parent’s journey in helping their child recover from an eating disorder. Topics to be covered include: resources, supports, understanding eating disorders, promoting resiliency of the caregivers, advocating for a parent’s child, reducing shame and/or stigma, and educating others about a child’s illness.

    View the Video

    Resources from the session:
    Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta
    National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)

Mental health grants

Recognizing mental health as a contributing root cause that brings children and families to the attention of child intervention services, the Alberta government has dedicated $2 million in funding in 2018/19. The grants help:

  • increase access to mental health specialists for assessment and brief intervention
  • recruit specialists, such as psychiatric nurse and pharmacist, to give child intervention staff access to expert clinical and medical consultation and help staff better understand the psychiatric treatment plans and use of psychotropic medications
  • support a best practice site in Calgary that increases mental health services to children and youth who are receiving child intervention services. The experiences learned from this site are used to enhance services across the province.

Mental health services site

Hull Services, Calgary, provides a program that assists parents in caring for their child with mental health needs and reduces the need for residential care. Their program uses individualized, evidence-based therapies to create a child’s support plan.

The support plan focuses on strategies that are transferable in the home environment. In addition to supporting the child within the program, the children receive support at home and in school.

This site was established to enhance mental health supports for children and families who are receiving child intervention services. This site provides increased mental health services to children and youth.

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