Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Individuals recovering from life-changing illnesses or injuries, such as stroke, amputation, or spinal cord injury, frequently experience mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties. Poor mental health during recovery can severely affect a patient's ability to take part in their rehabilitation, leading to slower recovery, longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs. Although early mental health screening has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, there are currently no standardized mental health or cognitive screening practices in Canadian rehabilitation settings. To address this gap, our one-year project will conduct a national review, known as an environmental scan (E-SCAN), of mental health and cognitive screening practices in Canadian rehabilitation settings. Using a structured online survey that will be developed by an interprofessional team, we will gather information on the tools currently used to screen for mental health and cognitive concerns. This includes learning about the availability of trained personnel, as well as the barriers and facilitators to implementing effective screening practices. We will also conduct in-depth consultations with five diverse rehabilitation sites across the country to understand how mental health screening is conducted in different settings and the reasons certain processes are or are not in place. This project will be the first in Canada to map current mental health and cognitive screening approaches in inpatient rehabilitation. The findings will provide an essential foundation for future research and policy development aimed at creating national standards for mental health screening. Ultimately, improving screening practices will enhance healthcare providers' ability to support patients in coping with mental health challenges throughout their recovery.