Did You Know?

Childhood depression can often be prevented. In particular, when young people are offered effective interventions, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, it is possible to stop depression from developing.For more information, see Vol. 11, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Participants in the BC Healthy Connections Project were selected based on experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage — and therefore have struggled financially. Most (83%) in fact were living on less than $20,000 pre-tax annually. Related to this, nearly half (47%) had also experienced homelessness at some time in their lives, and a third (34%) had had to move three or more times in the past year.

For many children, medications are a part of the treatment plan. Before starting any medication, physicians should always describe the associated risks and benefits so young people and their families can make informed decisions. Physicians should also carefully monitor children to ensure that benefits are maximized and side effects minimized. For more information, see Vol. 2, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly. 

The purpose of the Nurse-Family Partnership program is to help young, first-time mothers facing socioeconomic disadvantage. The BC Healthy Connections Project set out to recruit a cohort reflecting that population. So nearly half of participants (49%) were age 14–19 years while just over half (51%) were age 20–24 years.

Thursday, May 7 marks National Child and Youth Mental Health Day — a day on which caring adults are encouraged to make connections with children and youth in their lives. In the spirit of this day, the Children’s Health Policy Centre encourages all health practitioners who suspect a mental disorder in a child to conduct a comprehensive assessment involving both the young person and their parents or caregiver. For more information, see Vol. 2, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.