Ontario Health has released the following mental health–related quality standards for adults (18 years of age and older) in all health care settings (with a focus on primary and community care):
While these quality standards are designed for the care of adults, they also include content that is relevant for children and adolescents under the age of 18 years.
Although they are separate quality standards, many of the themes and tools overlap, and we have therefore grouped the tools together in this post. Below is a sample of tools and resources that may help you with the implementation of these quality standards into practice.
Are there other tools or resources you use? Do you have experience implementing these tools? If you have any feedback about any of these tools, please use the comments section below to share!
Programs and Resources for Patients, Families, and Caregivers
- 211 Ontario: Mental Health and Addictions—a 24/7 telephone helpline (2-1-1) and website providing a gateway to community, social, health (non-clinical), and related government services (available in over 150 languages)
- Anxiety Canada (formerly AnxietyBC)—a national organization that provides free online self-help and evidence-based resources on anxiety
- BounceBack: Reclaim Your Health—a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth (15 years and older) manage symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario: Services and Supports—information about community mental health and addiction services and supports across Ontario
- ConnexOntario—a 24-hour service funded by the Government of Ontario that provides free and confidential support for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness, and/or gambling
- International OCD Foundation—an international organization providing resources and support for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, including a directory of region-specific services
- Many mobile apps that focus on mental health and mindfulness, including:
- Headspace—an app that helps guide users through mindfulness and meditation exercises
- NOCD—an app that helps people connect with a therapist, stick to an obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment plan, and get reliable support
- MindShift CBT—an app that uses scientifically proven strategies based on cognitive behavioural therapy to help develop more effective ways of managing anxiety
- Wysa—an app that works as an interactive journal to allow users to focus their thoughts
- Mood Disorders Association of Ontario: Programs—information about programs and services offered by the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, including peer support and recovery programs)
- The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program—a 3-year pilot project testing the provision of evidence-based forms of cognitive behavioural therapy being rolled out through four hospitals: the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Royal Ottawa Healthcare Group, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
- Mental Health and Addiction services – provides information about provincial programs and supports for mental health and addiction needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including peer support, telephone or online resources, and services for children and youth
Programs and Resources for Children and Youth
- Family Navigation Project (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre)—a non-profit program designed to provide expert navigation of the mental health and addictions service system for youth (13–26 years of age) and their families in the Greater Toronto Area (Durham, Halton, Peel, Toronto and York)
- Kids Help Phone (including the Crisis Text Line)—a 24/7 service offering professional counselling, information, referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support for young people in both English and French
- School Mental Health Ontario—a provincial implementation support team working with Ontario school districts to enhance student mental health
- Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario—“one-stop-shops” for youth (12–25 years of age) to address their needs related to mental health, substance use, primary care, education/employment/training, housing, and other community and social services (including peer services, outreach, and system navigation)
Educational Opportunities and Resources for Health Care Professionals
- Excellence Through Quality Improvement (E-QIP) Project—a program led by Addictions Mental Health Ontario and the Ontario division of the Canadian Mental Health Association that aims to promote and support quality improvement in the community mental health and addictions sector
- Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre (Clinician Resources and Education)—resources to support clinicians in treating people with obsessive-compulsive disorder from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- Keeping Your Patients Safe: A Guide to Primary Care Management of Mental Health and Addictions-Related Risks and Functional Impairments Tool—a guide from the Centre of Effective Practice that helps clinicians identify, assess, and manage risks for patients with diagnosed, undiagnosed, or changing mental health conditions
- Patient Guide for Anxiety Disorders—a guide developed by Ontario Health to support patients, families, and caregivers in the management of anxiety disorders
- Patient Guide for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—a guide developed by Ontario Health to support patients, families, and caregivers in the management of obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Project ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health—a case-based learning series from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto that provides primary care providers with a community of practice to enhance capacity in child and youth mental health
- Project ECHO Ontario Mental Health—a case-based learning series from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Toronto that provides primary care providers with a community of practice to enhance capacity in various topics including mental health, obsessive-compulsive disorder,psychotherapy, and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Wellness
- Ontario College of Family Physicians Collaborative Mental Health Network—a network linking family physicians from across Ontario with general practice psychotherapists and psychiatrist mentors to facilitate access to case-by-case support and ongoing continuing professional development
- Virtual Care for Providers—virtual care solutions from the Ontario Telemedicine Network supporting the use of telemedicine to improve patient access to health care professionals
- Youth Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression Tool—a tool from the Centre for Effective Practice that helps clinicians detect and manage anxiety among youth (12–24 years of age)
Comprehensive Assessments
Other Programs, Tools, and Resources
- Quality Standards—other quality standards from Ontario Health (previously Health Quality Ontario) that focus on mental health issues may also be useful, including:
Comment below to describe your experience with these tools or share any others you have found useful!