Grant: TG: STEPS - PHS for the Prev.of Mental Health and/or Sub. Use Disorders in Youth

Canada's youth mental health and substance use health (MHSUH) systems face rising pressure from social, economic, and geopolitical challenges. Despite more funding and expanded services, many interventions miss their goals. Fragmented governance, uneven access, and structural issues prevent youth MHSUH systems from working effectively and fairly. Canada needs a transformative public health approach based on social justice, equity, and human rights to achieve lasting change. We propose a Youth MHSUH System Design Lab to lead a national effort in setting public health system standards and best practices. These standards will guide the design, coordination, and delivery of youth MHSUH systems. They will focus on prevention, population health, and reducing harm by improving governance, service coordination, workforce roles, and learning infrastructure. Situated within the area of Public Health Systems for the Prevention of Mental Health and/or Substance Use Disorders in Youth, this work integrates research and practice in real time, collaborating directly with those implementing system-wide change to enhance current initiatives. By focusing on the underlying determinants of health, the Lab will bring together policymakers, system leaders, community organizations, and youth with lived and living experience. Together, they will co-design action-oriented standards and implementation tools. These standards are intended to inform policy, planning, and practice across the community sector. The goal is to support more consistent quality, improved access, and greater equity in youth MHSUH systems across Canada. Using a tripartite leadership model and in-kind support, the Lab will make youth and youth councils key partners through ongoing support and fair compensation. By closing the gap between knowledge and action, this work aims to build a seamless, resilient, and fair public health system for youth mental health and substance use health nationwide.