The results from a Children’s Health Policy Centre systematic review suggest that some children experiencing multiple mental health concerns can be treated using a single intervention. The review looked at three different treatments — Brief Behavioral Therapy, Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT) and Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT). The most successful intervention, RRFT, reduced PTSD and substance use symptoms. MDFT also reduced substance use and criminal offending, according to one evaluation, although two other evaluations found benefits for behaviour but not substance use relative to comparison treatments. And while Brief Behavioral Therapy reduced anxiety symptoms and improved overall functioning, it did not outperform treatment-as-usual for depressive symptoms. For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Researchers examining Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) have gone beyond studying its effectiveness, which includes reducing cannabis use and other mental health concerns for young people. They have also examined the link between practitioner fidelity — or how closely clinicians follow and implement the treatment as it was originally designed — and youth outcomes. In one study, independent raters reviewed videotaped sessions from 25% of MDFT cases to ensure a range of cases and sessions for each therapist.  Researchers found that MDFT adherence ratings predicted significant decreases in both youth substance use frequency and cannabis “dependence” at six months. (Because the study began in 2006, the researchers used this older “dependence” diagnosis in some of their analyses rather than the current term, cannabis use disorder.) These findings underscore the importance of delivering effective treatments as intended. Policy-makers can support practitioners to deliver with fidelity in typical community settings, for example, by ensuring needed training is available.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Children with multiple mental health conditions often face added challenges. Experiencing more than one mental disorder has been associated with an increased likelihood of attempting suicide and dying by suicide.

Children with concurrent disorders are also more likely to experience greater impairment overall as well as in specific situations, including at school, at home and in relationships. In addition, these children are at greater risk for experiencing poorer quality of life and more peer problems, and they are more likely to drop out of treatment and have poorer treatment responses than those with one disorder only.

These findings underscore the importance of ensuring that children with concurrent disorders receive effective treatments that address all of their mental health needs and that are delivered in a manner than encourages their ongoing engagement.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Researchers tracked the rates of concurrent mental disorders for more than 600 Indigenous children to determine if there were changes as they reached adolescence. The children, who were living in one of eight Indigenous communities in Canada or the United States, were assessed when they were ages 10 to 12 years, and then again at ages 12 to 15. At the first time point, 9.2% met criteria for two mental disorders. By the second time point, this percentage had increased to 26.6%. This latter concurrence rate was similar to other populations of children — potentially reflecting the strength of Indigenous children, given that many faced added challenges, including limited service access and economic disadvantage.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Image credit: CIRA

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day — a time to celebrate the strength, innovation, culture and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

The day is held on the summer solstice in recognition of the many celebrations and community gatherings traditionally held by Indigenous peoples at this time of year. These gatherings include traditional cultural activities, parades, festivals, dancing, music and food. You can find a list of public gatherings and celebrations in BC at the Indigenous Tourism BC website.

Cultural connections — like those made during these annual summer celebrations — offer important mental health benefits for Indigenous youth. Mental health practitioners can promote well-being by supporting Indigenous young people to connect with their cultures, and policy-makers can also play a role by supporting Indigenous communities to ensure their cultures flourish. For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 2, page 3 (sidebar on enhancing mental health for Arctic Indigenous youth) of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.