Grant: Catalyst Grant: SPOR Innovative Clinical Trials (iCT)

Background: Our group is currently conducting a CIHR-funded, community-based, pragmatic, multi-site, cluster, controlled clinical trial of a treatment pathway for adolescents with depression. Our group has extensive experience in models for engaging youth with lived experience in research projects. While efforts to conduct youth mental health research in community settings are growing, barriers to this research still exist, particularly with respect to engagement. We wish to strengthen youth engagement (YE), by extending our current model from our academic site into community-based settings, while creating opportunities to build on the current model to address the unique needs of the community. Methods: In the context of the trial, we will create local YE teams at each of the 4 community mental health agencies (current study sites). Each team will consist of a champion (existing staff member with expressed interest) and 2 local youth with lived experience of depression. We will create a Community of Practice where community-based youth representatives meet monthly with established YE members at our centre to facilitate collaboration in the approach to the current study. Terms of reference will be created around governance, function and roles of YE teams. Topics of interest may include how best to optimize enrollment and retention in the study at the local site, how best to proceed with screening and consent processes, creation of research-promoting materials, implementation of interventions, as well as interpretation of data results. YE teams will then apply their input into the ongoing trial. We will collect quantitative and qualitative data with respect to youth representative experiences and asking youth representatives and agency staff to complete and established questionnaire, periodically throughout the project. Materials that can be used for similar efforts in other research studies will also be co-developed by youth representatives.