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.

Child maltreatment is a serious (and preventable) form of adversity — that nevertheless affects different children differently. Most children who have been maltreated actually experience good to moderate mental health despite their experiences. For those who struggle, however, proven interventions can address the most common associated mental health concerns — including anxiety, conduct disorder, substance use and depression. But the first step, always, is to stop the maltreatment and make sure children are safe. For more information, see Vol. 12, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly. 

When a young person has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), parents will often take steps to try to reduce their child’s distress, such as helping them avoid feared situations. But these well-intentioned efforts may actually worsen the OCD, making it more entrenched. Practitioners can help — by teaching parents how to help children overcome their fears by facing them. For more information, see Vol. 8, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

More than half of participants in the BC Healthy Connections Project (BCHCP) reported having a limited education, meaning they had not completed high school or the equivalent. For those age 14–19 years, 69% had not completed high school; for those age 20–24 years, 38% had not completed this milestone. By comparison, approximately 11% of BC girls and young women in the general population (under age 25) typically do not complete high school.

Thursday, April 2, 2019 marks the twelfth annual World Autism Awareness Day. Hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world will shine with blue light in recognition of people living with autism.

A qualitative study by the Children’s Health Policy Centre, published in 2015 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders described the challenges facing both parents and policymakers with respect to autism. The findings suggested that there is an emerging consensus on improving autism services in Canada—which should greatly benefit children. Read the paper here.