Grant: Project Grant

Youth with mental illness (MI) face barriers to accessing postsecondary education (PSE; e.g., university) and enroll at lower rates than their peers without MI. PSE is a key period for developing career skills, independence, and social growth, and it supports long-term economic and personal well-being. Yet little is known about why youth with MI struggle to access and complete PSE, particularly those receiving care in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The transition to PSE often coincides with the transition out of CAMHS, which can disrupt care at a critical time. CAMHS provides a unique opportunity to support youth through this transition, leveraging existing clinical relationships and infrastructure. The Pathways 2 Postsecondary (P2P) project aims to clarify how youth with MI navigate pathways into and through PSE and to identify barriers and facilitators that influence enrollment and attainment. Specifically, P2P will examine the likelihood and predictors of entering PSE directly after high school, completing the first year of PSE, and different PSE trajectories. P2P will also explore experiences of transitioning into and through PSE. Guided by an Expert Advisory Committee of youth, clinicians, and knowledge users, P2P is a longitudinal, multi-method extension of the Toronto Adolescent and Youth (TAY) Cohort Study. It integrates rich clinical, psychiatric, and sociodemographic data with new PSE-specific measures collected over three years. A subset of participants will also take part in interviews to capture their lived experiences. The project will generate new evidence on factors affecting PSE access and success for youth with MI. Findings will inform the development of transition to resources for CAMHS clinicians, translating evidence into strategies to better support youth. Together, the research and resources will promote equitable access to PSE, helping all youth achieve their educational goals regardless of mental health status.