Grant: IYS-Net Phase 1: Building Learning Health System Net. - Stream 1 Network Grants

The mental health (MH) crisis facing Canadian youth is a public health and human rights concern. The pandemic has worsened this crisis, with significant increases in youth MH problems including substance use (SU). While MH challenges among youth have been increasing for decades, barriers make it difficult for youth to access and receive care in a timely manner, if at all. As a solution, integrated youth services (IYS) approaches (e.g., IYS hubs) that bring unconnected services together, which are offered to youth in community settings, have been promoted in Canada. Manitoba (MB) has 6 IYS hubs (i.e., Huddle). While the overall goal of Huddle is to improve MH and SU (MHSU) services and outcomes for MB youth, currently lacking in Huddle is a system of processes that is able to gather evidence of what is working and not working, and applies what is learned to continuously innovate and improve equitable and inclusive MHSU services in real time. The aim of this urgent and timely 5-year study is to apply a Learning Health System (LHS) approach to improve equitable and inclusive access to MHSU services and equitable outcomes for youth accessing Huddle hubs in MB. In applying the LHS approach, attention will be given to Huddle's core service areas of patient experience and outcomes, health of the population, health and social services equity, system efficiency, well-being of health and social services workers, and Indigenous ways of care. Multiple data sources will include interview data from youth, families, and Huddle staff, data from the care management system and Indigenous methods (e.g., Knowledge Circles). This first-of-its-kind project will evaluate, inform and enhance MHSU implemented programs and practices, including Indigenous ways of care for MB youth accessing MHSU services at Huddle with the aim to improve outcomes for youth. This project will also contribute evidence to inform the development of standards for MHSU services at IYS hubs across Canada.