Approximately 1 in 5 Canadian children and adolescents have at least one mental health problem; up to 70% of problems persist into adulthood. Yet research suggests that as many as 50% of youth disengage from mental health care as they transition from child to adult services. Evidence shows that adults who transition from psychiatric care who have access to planned interventions that are co-designed with patients have reduced rates of readmission and impairment. For example, a navigator program would help patients to identify level of post-discharge needs and options for continued care. However, few evidence-based mental health transition interventions exist for use with children and youth. ​

This study aims to collaborate with patients, caregivers, referring clinicians and navigators in the evaluation of a navigator program implemented at two hospital sites in the Greater Toronto Area. Based on the clinical needs and goals of the youth and their caregivers, the navigator focuses on ensuring transition success by working with youth to prioritize transition goals, assessing transition readiness, and collaborating with their care team to complete transfer. Navigators provide short-term (1-6 months) intensive support using a combination of case management and system navigation.
​
Youth participants between the age range of 16-18 years and their caregivers are assessed at baseline (before they start receiving navigation services) and again at six months using a set of questionnaires. At six months, in-depth semi structured interviews will be conducted with youth and caregivers. Clinicians and navigators have also participated in interviews to understand their experiences of and perspectives on the navigator role. The results of quantitative and qualitative data sets will be linked, combined and integrated into meta-inferences, to gather comprehensive understanding of the navigator intervention.

The study aims to evaluate a promising transition in care intervention that has been implemented across Canada. The evidence generated by this evaluation study is particularly important to our ongoing commitment in Canada to improve transitions from CAMHS for transition aged youth and ensure youth do not ‘fall through the cracks’ of our health care system at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives. By engaging youth and their caregivers in the study we will ensure this evaluation study is patient-oriented and directly responds to their demand for evidence in this area.