Jun 2017
Youth Mental Health
Introduction
Two of the most common mental health disorders among youth are anxiety and depression. Detect and manage anxiety and depression among youth patients aged 12–24 with the Youth Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression Tool.
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In The Know - Youth Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression
Our video on the Youth Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression Tool, which includes details on what the tool highlights and how it can be used to assess and manage youth patients who experience anxiety and depression. Visit: thewellhealth.ca/ymh for more information.
Information
About the tool
Approximately 20 per cent of Ontario youth have a mental health disorder causing significant distress and impairing their functioning at home, at school, with peers or in the community. The most common are anxiety, and behavioural and depressive disorders. The Youth Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression Tool is designed to help family physicians and primary care nurse practitioners detect and manage anxiety and depression among youth patients aged 12–24.
- Intended to be used over a series of visits, the tool is divided into the following four key sections:
- Supporting your patient
- Follow-up and monitoring
- Management
- Screening and assessment
Clinical leads
Muna Chowdhury
MD, FCFP
Muna Chowdhury is a family physician at Queen West Community Health Centre. She has extensive experience in all aspects of adolescent health and expertise in providing primary and mental health care to high risk and homeless youth. As a University of Toronto faculty member, she enjoys teaching and mentoring learners at all levels, from medical students to fellows and other physician preceptors. Dr. Chowdhury is also involved in leadership, advocacy and program development related to adolescent health, and is well known among the youth-serving agencies in Toronto.
Conflict of interest
The clinical lead received compensation for her role.
Focus group and usability participants received a small token of appreciation (e.g. gift certificate).
Expert Reviewers
The CEP sought expert input to inform the Youth Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression Tool. We are grateful to all the individuals for their time and expertise.
- Chris Langlois
- Amy Cheung, MD
- Gail Czukar
- Kimberly Moran
- Valery Navarete
- Catherine Ford
- Sarah Labert
- Michelle Hurtubise