Grant: Project Grant

Depressive and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent, disabling, and costly health conditions in Canada. Despite their high prevalence and burden, people living with these mental disorders often struggle to access timely, high-quality care that is appropriate for their needs and preferences. To address this challenge, the Quebec government recently launched the Programme québécois pour les troubles mentaux (PQPTM), a province-wide program that aims to improve access to an expanded continuum of evidence-based treatments and services for common mental disorders. The program was designed to transform the delivery and organization of mental health services in Quebec, notably through the large-scale implementation of stepped and measurement-based models of care in primary care and community settings. To date, however, uptake of these models in Quebec's Family Medicine Groups has been slow given the complex nature of these models and the challenges inherent to their adoption in these specific primary care settings. The overall objective of our study is thus to evaluate and facilitate the implementation of stepped and measurement-based care for depressive and anxiety disorders in Family Medicine Groups. To achieve this aim, we will conduct a multiple case study that integrates a participatory action research approach. We will specifically partner with regional implementation committees (RICs) comprised of health managers that are actively working with Family Medicine Group leaders and clinicians to implement the PQPTM in their clinics. We will collect data from RIC meetings, as well as from key informant interviews and surveys, and work with them to co-design supportive implementation strategies and tools. Our study will close knowledge gaps that are contributing to the slow uptake of these stepped and measurement-based care models and deliver tangible supports that enhance the quality of mental health care for Canadians with depressive and anxiety disorders.