Clinical Innovations and Tools

Monitoring Mental Health: Using measurement tools to inform care for youth

Structured measurement tools offer an organized approach to asking questions when screening for symptoms of mental health conditions in children and youth. These tools can also be used to monitor symptom change and can help physicians and other service providers make informed treatment changes (a concept called measurement-based care). Learn more in this video meant for primary care and other service providers. This tool was developed in partnership with the Georgian Bay Family Health Team and New Path Youth and Family Services.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement Tools
Audience: Primary Care Providers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Video

Monitoring Mental Health: Using the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale

Structured measurement tools offer an organized approach to asking questions when screening for symptoms of mental health conditions in children and youth. These tools can also be used to monitor symptom change and can help physicians and other service providers make informed treatment changes (a concept called measurement-based care). Learn more in this video meant for primary care and other service providers. This tool was developed in partnership with the Georgian Bay Family Health Team and New Path Youth and Family Services .

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement
Audience: Primary Care Providers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Video

Assessing for Depression in a Virtual Primary Care Appointment with a Young Person

Meant for primary care providers, this simulation video demonstrates how to assess for depression in a young person and highlights important questions to ask, including ones about self-harm and suicide. It also highlights concepts important to young people, such as privacy and consent as an ongoing process. This resource was co-developed by mental health professionals, young people, and primary care providers.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement
Audience: Primary Care Providers
Resource type: Video

Quick Guide to the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)

Learn more about the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) in our Quick Guide, which outlines how the questionnaire is administered and scored. This tool also proposes a way of using RCADS scores to calculate indicators of change, such as response, remission, recovery, relapse, and recurrence.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement
Audience: Primary Care Providers; Health Care Providers; Researchers and Academics
Resource type: Other

ICHOM Standard Set for Child & Young People with Depression and Anxiety

The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) has developed a standard set of outcome measures that matter most to children and young people with depression and anxiety. ICHOM is made up of leading global experts, including members of the Cundill Centre, and consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health experts, measurement experts, and lived experience experts. The group recommends that providers around the world start measuring the selected outcomes to better understand how to improve the lives of young people.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement
Audience: Health Care Providers
Resource type: Website

Cundill Centre Online Tool for the Treatment of Youth Depression

This free, interactive online tool summarizes best practices for supporting youth as they manage their depression. The evidence-based clinical resource is meant for primary care providers and other frontline clinicians and takes about 20 minutes to complete. The tool was created by clinician scientists, youth and other experts from the Cundill Centre. Watch a brief video overview of the tool here.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement; Treatment
Audience: Primary Care Providers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Website

Aaniish Naa Gegii: the Children's Health and Well-being Measure (ACHWM)

The ACHWM provides Indigenous communities (e.g., First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and organizations with an overview of the health and well-being status of the children and youth in their communities. The measure offers insight into Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, and Mental wellness and is completed on a tablet. An app is available to Indigenous communities and not-for-profit agencies whose primary focus is to promote the health and well-being of Indigenous children. Learn more and access the app on the ACHWM website.

This tool was developed by Laurentian University and the Naandwechige-Gamig Health Centre in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, partners of the Cundill Centre.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement
Audience: First Nations, Métis or Inuit People, Communities and Organizations
Resource type: App

The International Network for Research Outcomes in Adolescent Depression Studies (IN-ROADS)

The International Network for Research Outcomes in Adolescent Depression Studies (IN-ROADS) initiative aims to develop a core outcome set to be used in clinical trials assessing treatments for major depressive disorder in adolescents 12 to 18 years of age. The core outcome set will be developed based on the input of patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, policy makers, and key international stakeholders.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement
Audience: Researchers and Academics; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Website

Depression and Autism: A youth-to-youth guide to coping and getting help

This 23-page tip sheet package is a practical resource to support the mental health and well-being of autistic individuals. Autistic youth designed this package with the support of family caregivers, clinicians, and researchers with experience in providing care and conducting research with autistic youth. This resource is meant for autistic youth, their caregivers and clinicians. The package contains tip sheets on six topics:

• Why We Created this Tool
• Autism and Depression: What can it look like?
• Coping Strategies
• Getting Help
• A Note to Caregivers
• A Note to Mental Health Professionals

This work was made possible through funding and support from the Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression, the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, and Autism Speaks Canada.

Purpose: Psychoeducation
Audience: Youth; Caregivers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Information sheet

Mood Matters: Describing Depression

Understanding emotions can be complicated. This video in our Mood Matters series was created for youth by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative at the McCain Centre and mental health professionals. Find out what depression is, what the causes might be, what challenges might come up and what you can do to support yourself or your friends or family members.

Version française ici.

Purpose: Psychoeducation
Audience: Youth
Resource type: Video

Mood Matters: How Food, Movement & Sleep Can Have an Impact on You

Did you know the way you eat, move and sleep can impact your mood? This video in our new Mood Matters series was created for youth by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative at the McCain Centre and mental health professionals. Find out how healthy eating, movement and sleep habits can improve your health and mental health, and get tips for changes you can start today.

Purpose: Psychoeducation
Audience: Youth
Resource type: Video

Mood Foundations Package | CARIBOU

Mood Foundations is a four-page package that includes a fact sheet on depression, as well as tips on sleep, exercise and healthy eating. It considers that there are certain habits that are not changeable to youth, as well as other habits that are changeable, but require different amounts of time and effort to modify. This resource is meant for youth. It can also be used by health care providers, teachers and parents to work collaboratively with youth on improving habits to help manage depressive symptoms. The tool was co-developed by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative at the McCain Centre as part of the CARIBOU project.

Purpose: Psychoeducation
Audience: Youth; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Information Sheet

CARIBOU: Flexible Care for Youth with Depression

This video provides an overview of Care for Adolescents who Receive Information ‘Bout OUtcomes (CARIBOU), an evidence-based integrated care pathway for adolescents with depression. The pathway has been implemented at CAMH and will be implemented in community settings as part of a clinical trial. This resource is meant for youth and their family members. It can also be used by health care providers to help explain the CARIBOU Pathway to youth and their families. The video was developed by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative in partnership with mental health professionals

Purpose: Psychoeducation; Integrated Care Pathway
Audience: Youth; Caregivers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Video

Medication and YOUTH: A Resource for Youth by Youth

Research has shown that a type of antidepressants, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can help reduce the symptoms of depression in young people. This handout explains, in simple language, what SSRIs are, when youth might see the benefits and what side effects, if any, can occur. It also provides tips on how to take the medication. This resource is meant for youth. It can also be used by health care providers, pharmacists or other supports in young people’s lives to help explain SSRIs to youth. The tool was developed by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative in partnership with a psychiatrist and a pharmacist as part of the CARIBOU project.

Purpose: Treatment
Audience: Youth; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Information Sheet

Problem Solving Worksheets|CARIBOU

This three-page package helps youth think through their problems by prompting them to describe the situation, as well as their emotions and needs. It takes youth through steps that help them explore solutions, evaluate those solutions, and make a plan of action. This resource is meant for health care providers. It was co-developed by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative at the McCain Centre as part of the CARIBOU project

Purpose: Treatment
Audience: Health Care Providers
Resource type: Worksheets

Is Problem-Solving Training a Key Ingredient in Reducing Youth Depression?

Problem-solving training is a component of several evidence-based therapies for youth depression, or can be a free-standing intervention. This information sheet for health care providers and policy decision-makers gives an overview of problem-solving training, and summarizes key findings and implications based on a review of the evidence for problem-solving as an effective treatment ingredient for youth depression. Researchers, clinicians and youth partners from the Cundill Centre conducted this review and developed this resource, with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

Purpose: Treatment
Audience: Health Care Providers
Resource type: Information Sheet

How Can Problem Solving Help Youth with Depression?

This video for youth describes how problem solving can be one important ingredient in tackling depression. The video was created by young people and mental health professionals from the Cundill Centre and the Youth Engagement Initiative at CAMH, with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

Purpose: Treatment
Audience: Youth
Resource type: Video

Cognitive Restructuring Worksheets

This three-page package helps youth examine thoughts that may not be helpful to them. It teaches youth how to change their thoughts by considering alternative ways of interpreting situations. This resource is meant for health care providers. It was co-developed by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative at the McCain Centre as part of the CARIBOU project.

Purpose: Treatment
Audience: Health Care Providers
Resource type: Worksheet

Cundill Centre Online Tool for the Treatment of Youth Depression

This free, interactive online tool summarizes best practices for supporting youth as they manage their depression. The evidence-based clinical resource is meant for primary care providers and other frontline clinicians and takes about 20 minutes to complete. The tool was created by clinician scientists, youth and other experts from the Cundill Centre. Watch a brief video overview of the tool here.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement; Treatment
Audience: Primary Care Providers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Website

CARIBOU Integrated Care Pathway for Adolescents with Depression: Pathway Manual

The Cundill Centre has developed an evidence-based integrated care pathway (ICP) for adolescents with depression. ICPs are structured, multi-disciplinary care plans that map the treatment process from start to finish. This Implementation Guide outlines the seven steps of the CARIBOU ICP and includes the materials required to implement the pathway, such as assessment forms and worksheets for youth. The Implementation Guide is meant for health care providers who work with adolescents with mental health concerns and who are interested in learning about or implementing the pathway, administrators and implementation science researchers.

Purpose: Integrated Care Pathway
Audience: Health Care Providers; Researchers and Academics
Resource type: Manual

The #CundillatCAMH Decision Aid for the Treatment of Child and Youth Depression

This two-page flowchart was developed by the Cundill Centre to help guide health care providers in making treatment decisions for children and youth who have depression. The decision aid builds on the work of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Project, which identified the National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) guidelines in the U.K. as the best guidelines for young people with depression. The decision aid is meant for health care providers who work with children and youth with depression, including nurses, paediatricians, psychiatrists, family physicians, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists; it can be modified to fit different environments

Purpose: Integrated Care Pathway
Audience: Health Care Providers; Primary Care Providers
Resource type: Other

CARIBOU: Flexible Care for Youth with Depression

This video provides an overview of Care for Adolescents who Receive Information ‘Bout OUtcomes (CARIBOU), an evidence-based integrated care pathway for adolescents with depression. The pathway has been implemented at CAMH and will be implemented in community settings as part of a clinical trial. This resource is meant for youth and their family members. It can also be used by health care providers to help explain the CARIBOU Pathway to youth and their families. The video was developed by youth from the Youth Engagement Initiative in partnership with mental health professionals

Purpose: Psychoeducation; Integrated Care Pathway
Audience: Youth; Caregivers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Video

ACHWM: Map of Services for Indigenous Children and Youth in Sudbury, Ontario

This map outlines health and well-being services available to Indigenous children and youth in the greater Sudbury region of Ontario and was developed as part of a larger project to support local referral and treatment processes.

Purpose: Health Services
Audience: Youth; Caregivers; Health Care Providers
Resource type: Website

INNOVATE Research: Youth Engagement Guidebook for Researchers

The INNOVATE Research: Youth Engagement Guidebook for Researchers is a comprehensive guidebook that walks researchers through the steps of engaging youth in research activities. It was developed by a pan-Canadian team of youth and researchers with experience in youth engagement at all stages of research, from developing the research question through to knowledge translation.

Visit the Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child Youth & Family Mental Health website to learn more.

Purpose: Youth Engagement
Audience: Researchers and Academics
Resource type: Manual

ACHWM Wellness Resource Hub

The Wellness Resource Hub is a collection of existing and new resources to address and support Indigenous children and youth's mental and emotional wellness. The Wellness Resource Hub aims to be a starting point that facilitates knowledge exchange and sharing across communities and Nations.

Purpose: Treatment
Audience: First Nations, Métis or Inuit People, Communities and Organizations
Resource type: Website

CAMH Substance Use Disorder Toolbox

CAMH presents a no-cost "Substance use disorder toolbox" to help all health care practitioners assess and treat common substance use disorders. This is for clinicians on the front lines of the health care system, and it aims to support them in their approaches to substance use disorders.

Note that users need to register to access the modules.

Purpose: Screening, Assessment & Measurement Tools; Treatment
Audience: Health Care Providers
Resource type: Health Care Providers