CYMH Leadership Summit Series: What We Learned From COVID Session Recordings

This day included a series of of two presentations which were in turn followed by moderated breakout rooms.  A third presentation by individuals with lived experience with the child and youth mental health system rounded the day with a call to action and plea for all levels of care to work together with families to build health services built on a shared humanity.  

The role of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and youth

• Speakers: Dr. Holly Agostino, Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt

• Description: . The data suggests a deterioration on many mental health indicators, but not all, and for many youth, but not all. Although discrepancies and why they exist will be noted, one reliable area of concern discussed was eating disorders. Key evidence gaps and public health implications were addressed, along with best practice recommendations for a post-pandemic recovery in this area of health.

Treading in Deep Water: Pandemic Impact on People and Practice

• Speakers: Dr. Sharon Clark, Holly Murphy, Dr. Sabina Abidi, Jennifer McCarron

• Description: The IWK Mental Health and Addictions program shared their experiences navigating the waters when teams were moving from onsite to home locations. Where teams were previously co-located, suddenly staff were isolated and trying to problem-solve on their own. Leadership recognized that teams were treading in deep water and decided to rely on familiar framework to identify the factors contributing to the problem. IWK leaders shared their reflections on approaches that worked, challenges faced, gaps that remain and considerations for a way forward to support mental health teams.

Listening and learning from shared lived experiences

• Panelists: Anita Simon, Katelyn Greer, Julien Quickstad

• Description:Patients and their supports shine a deeper and broader light on problems regarding youth mental health. They  help reframe issues so they are more amenable to solutions that will tackle what matters. Patients and their loved ones often will have the insights, imagination and freedom from institutionally limited thinking to ask “what if”. They widen the array of options for improvement and change. Julien, Katelyn and Anita  openly discussed their perspectives that are grounded in shared humanity to inspire positive system transformation for all.