A recent systematic review by the Children’s Health Policy Centre looked at Super Skills for Life, a targeted program which aimed to prevent depression and anxiety disorders for children who already had symptoms of them. The program produced multiple benefits for young children at one-year follow-up, including reducing symptoms of both disorders. Researchers then examined how children’s participation in and satisfaction with Super Skills for Life influenced their outcomes. First, they divided children into two groups based on their experiences with the program. The high-fidelity group included children who scored above 50% on three markers: attended seven or eight (of the eight) scheduled sessions, completed five to seven (of the seven) homework assignments, and rated their satisfaction with the program as nine or 10 (out of 10). This classification resulted in 61.2% of children being in the high-fidelity group and 38.8% in the low-fidelity group.

Children who participated in Super Skills for Life had significantly fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group, with no difference based on fidelity classification. However, for emotional symptoms and behavioural problems, only the high-fidelity group outperformed the control group at one-year follow-up. These findings suggest that while children can experience benefits from prevention programs even when their engagement is more limited, maximum gains occur when maximum fidelity is achieved. The take-away message for practitioners is to continue their efforts to engage children, including encouraging children’s attendance in sessions and their practice of skills outside of sessions, knowing the potential positive payoffs.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

As part of a recent systematic review, the Children’s Health Policy Centre examined the results of a study on the Strong African American Families–Teen (SAAF–T) program, which aimed to prevent substance use, behaviour problems and depressive symptoms for Black youth. The study not only examined whether that the Strong African American Families-Teen (SAAF-T) program was effective in preventing alcohol use, but it also looked at whether program was cost-effective.

After researchers determined that the program was indeed effective in preventing alcohol use, they calculated the cost of delivering the program while considering the benefits from reductions in alcohol use and binge drinking, to identify the estimated costs of preventing episodes of each of these events. They concluded that the program was cost-effective so long as policy-makers were willing to pay $100 to prevent an episode of alcohol use and $440 to prevent an episode of binge drinking.

Policy-makers, of course, need to weigh these expenditures against the costs of alcohol use by adolescents, including binge drinking, which can accrue health care costs from accidents and injuries, risky sexual behaviour and potential future substance use disorders. Given the high price of adolescent alcohol use, SAAF–T has the potential to not only improve lives but also to do so in a cost-effective manner. For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

World Autism Awareness Day this year will bring together global experts, policymakers and autistic voices to discuss policy issues that impact autistic individuals worldwide — including children and youth.

At a virtual event hosted by the United Nations (UN) on April 2, panelists and speakers will explore how neurodiversity shapes inclusive policymaking and contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions will focus on inclusive healthcare, education and employment, and on designing autism-friendly cities and communities.

Designated by the UN in 2007, World Autism Awareness Day is an annual observance that celebrates neurodiversity and promotes the acceptance, appreciation and inclusion of autistic individuals. The theme for this year’s event, “Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” highlights how inclusive policies can support autistic individuals while also advancing global development priorities. These priorities — the Sustainable Development Goals — include eliminating poverty, providing quality education for kids and adolescents, creating job opportunities for youth and reducing inequality.

You can learn more and register to attend the event on the United Nations website.

A systematic review that focused on Arctic Indigenous Youth identified factors found to enhance their mental well-being. Many of the protective factors identified were not unique to Indigenous youth, such as positive parent-child relationships. However, some more specific factors emerged for Arctic Indigenous youth. These included living in communities that embraced Traditional Knowledge and cultural revitalization, and having kinship structures that emphasized family connections. These findings led the authors to stress the importance of community and culture for Arctic Indigenous youth. Applying these findings, practitioners can promote mental well-being by supporting Indigenous youth to connect with their cultures. Policy-makers can also play a role by supporting Indigenous communities to ensure that their cultures flourish.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

The 2025 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination marks the 60th anniversary of an important human rights treaty — the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). Adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1965, the ICERD was the first of the UN’s core human rights treaties. It set the stage for future human rights advances and underpins the ongoing global fight against racism and discrimination.

As part of their work under the ICERD, the United Nations designated March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre, in which police in South Africa opened fire on a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws,” killing 69 people.

This year’s observance offers an opportunity to celebrate progress made under the ICERD. But it also highlights the work still needed to create a world free from racial discrimination.

Though antiracism efforts must focus on adults, from whom children learn their early beliefs and behaviours, childhood interventions can also be a starting point. A systematic review undertaken by the Children’s Health Policy Centre identified two interventions that reduced racist attitudes. To learn more, see Vol. 15, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Research has identified several modifiable risk factors that increase the likelihood of children developing multiple disorders. For example, common risk factors for both anxiety and depression include challenges with regulating emotions and with experiencing negative emotions such as anger and guilt on a frequent basis. As well, limited parent involvement and support play a role in the development of behaviour and substance use problems. Notably, experiencing avoidable childhood adversities, including maltreatment, is a risk factor for several disorders.

These research findings support the development of interventions to address common risk factors underlying multiple disorders — programs collectively termed transdiagnostic prevention programs. When successful, these interventions have several potential advantages over those that address single disorders only. They can provide a greater range of benefits while simultaneously simplifying training and implementation. As well, they have the potential to reduce mental health service shortfalls and reduce delivery costs.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Mental disorders cause substantial distress for children, and for their families. They also constitute one of the leading causes of childhood disability globally. Compounding the challenges, among children who meet diagnostic criteria for one disorder, 26.5% meet criteria for two or more.

Beyond prioritizing the prevention of childhood mental disorders generally, it is particularly important to prevent concurrent disorders given the added harms they cause. One effective approach entails expanding delivery of the many proven programs for preventing common conditions such as childhood anxiety, behaviour and substance use problems. Building on protective factors is another effective approach. For example, helping young people develop positive relationships with their parents has been found to protect against developing anxiety disorders.

For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

February 26 marks Pink Shirt Day, also known as antibullying day. Pink Shirt Day advocates kindness and inclusivity and raises awareness of bullying in schools, workplaces and homes. Across Canada, thousands of kids, families and colleagues show their support by wearing pink shirts — some from their closets and others purchased from official distributors like CKNW Kids’ Fund. Each year, proceeds from pink shirt sales go to organizations that support kids’ healthy self-esteem and teach empathy, compassion and kindness.

Pink Shirt Day was founded in 2007, when two Grade 12 students in a Nova Scotia high school took a stand against bullying in support of a younger classmate. The younger boy had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. The Grade 12 students purchased and distributed pink shirts to their classmates, breaking the cycle of bullying.

Schools are excellent venues for reaching large numbers of children with antibullying programs. Programs can start early and can be offered across a range of ages, which means they reach more children to prevent the harms that come with bullying. To learn more about effective antibullying interventions, see Vol. 15, No. 4 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

A recent systematic review by the Children’s Health Policy Centre found that comprehensive interventions for youth at risk for suicide can effectively reduce suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. These results suggest six implications for policy and practice:

• Include parents in interventions for at-risk children and youth when feasible. All the effective interventions were comprehensive, providing therapeutic components for both young people and their parents, including Multisystemic Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Attachment-Based Family Therapy and the Resourceful Adolescent Parent Program. So when intervening with children and youth at risk for suicide, parents should be included whenever possible.
• Ensure sufficient intervention duration. Results for the brief programs — those delivered in two session or fewer — were generally poor, with all but one (the youth and parent version of Promoting CARE) failing to significantly improve any suicide outcome. Young people with significant risk for suicide therefore likely require interventions that are longer, enabling enough time for them to learn and practise new skills.
• Recognize the possibility of extending benefits by offering booster sessions. The impact of several of the more successful comprehensive interventions waned over time. Still the findings from other studies suggest it may be possible to extend positive benefits by offering booster sessions. For example, a systematic review of 53 studies showed that CBT interventions with booster sessions were more effective and had more enduring effects than those without for young people with mood or anxiety disorders.
• Address underlying mental health concerns that heighten the risk for suicide. Children and youth with mental disorders, especially depression, are at greater risk for suicide than those without these conditions. As well, improving the detection and treatment of mental disorders in general has been identified as crucial to reducing child and youth suicide. Practitioners can help by conducting comprehensive assessments and by providing effective treatments for all children and youth with mental disorders. Policy-makers can help by ensuring adequate public resources to meet these needs.
• Promote protective factors. Given that social connectedness can reduce the likelihood of suicide attempts and ideation, helping youth build positive relationships is a helpful protective strategy. Strengthening connections with both parents and peers can be the focus.
• Be alert for suicide risk in young people receiving mental health services. Many children and youth who die by suicide have had contact with mental health professionals beforehand. A British study found that 26.3% of such young people had received mental health services within the three months before their death. So all mental health practitioners who care for young people need to be alert to the risks and assess for suicide potential. 

The suicide of any young person is a tragedy. It is a devastating loss reflecting great suffering for that child or youth and their family. It is also an exceedingly sad loss for others involved with the young person, including teachers and practitioners. Further research will help define more and better suicide prevention interventions for young people. For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 1 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

A recent systematic review provided insights on how mental health practitioners were affected when someone they had been caring for died by suicide. The most common personal reactions were guilt, blame, shock, anger and sadness. The review also identified what practitioners found beneficial following such a loss. Informal supports were found to be the most helpful, including those from peers, family and friends. Formal supports, including supervision, were noted to be valuable as well. These findings can be used to ensure that when a practitioner loses a young person to suicide, the right personal and professional supports are made available. For more information, see Vol. 17, No. 1  of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.