In Canada, approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents experience some form of mental disorder. Most major mental disorders begin prior to the age of 25, making adolescence a critical time for the promotion and treatment of mental health problems. One of the key initiatives of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is to develop a Mental Health Strategy for Canada. As part of this strategy the MHCC will support the development of a framework, entitled Evergreen, specific to the needs of child and youth mental health. A framework for child and youth mental health is important because it helps keep everyone on the same page, working together towards a common goal – to develop a mental health system that effectively meets the needs of young people living with mental health problems and illnesses.
Evergreen has been collaboratively developed by professionals, youth, parents and members of the public from all regions across Canada who have expertise, interest or experience with mental health and mental illness. We want to thank you for your contribution if you were a member of our facebook group, or participated in some of our public consultations. We are just putting the final touches on our final draft and will be releasing that shortly to those who have helped us craft this. We have collectively built Evergreen to be among the most comprehensive child and youth mental health frameworks in the world!
Watch the video below of Dr. Simon Davidson provided by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Evergreen is a project of the Child and Youth Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Funding for this project is provided by the Mental Health Commission of Canada with additional support from the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, IWK Health Centre, T. R. Meighen Family Foundation, and Kathryn A. Weldon Foundation.
Interested in reviewing our bibliography for Evergreen, download it here.
Interested in reviewing Evergreen?
It can be downloaded from our toolbox page Executive Summary (English by clicking here) or the full document in English (by clicking here) or French (by clicking here).
