APHD Colloquium: From RCT to pan-Canadian system transformation: Lessons from a decade of youth mental health research and implementation
The talk presents research using brain imaging techniques (ERP, fNIRS) and behavioral studies across infants, children, and adults to uncover the cognitive and neural foundations of numerical development.
There are significant concerns about unmet substance use, health, and mental health needs among youth. The health system's capacity to provide timely access to high-quality substance use and mental health services in Canada is limited.
This presentation describes the development and scale-up of Integrated Youth Services (IYS), a community-based, transdiagnostic, youth co-created approach to delivering services for youth substance use and mental health. In 2015, a youth co-designed pragmatic randomized controlled trial, YouthCan IMPACT was launched, testing integrated youth services delivered in three community-based youth hubs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as compared to hospital-based adolescent outpatient psychiatry services in five hospitals. In 2017, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, inspired by YouthCan IMPACT, was funded as a demonstration initiative to examine the feasibility of the Integrated Youth Services model for youth aged 12 to 25 years in seven additional communities across Ontario. The YWHO model integrates substance use, physical and mental health services, along with other community and social supports, and has contributed significantly to youth substance use and mental health system change. Today, Ontario's Ministry of Health funds 32 Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario networks throughout Ontario and over 10,000 youth have received integrated youth services. Co-creation, equity considerations, learning health system approaches, and implementation science have been critical to scaling.
Event Agenda
- 1:00 - 2:00 PM: Presentation
- 2:00 - 2:30 PM: Audience Q&A
About the Speaker
Dr. Jo Henderson
Dr. Jo Henderson is a graduate of OISE’s School and Child Clinical Psychology program and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Henderson is also Chief Scientific Officer for Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario & Integrated Youth Services, and the Graham Boeckh Foundation Chair in Youth Mental Health Research and Services.
Dr. Henderson has successfully secured and implemented more than $60M in research and program funding and most recently, is guiding the collaborative development and implementation of two infrastructure initiatives to support Integrated Youth Services across Canada: a federated data platform and an IYS Collaboration Centre.
In 2025 Dr. Henderson’s efforts were recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal .
