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JCACAP call for nature-themed photographs

The Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JCACAP) is seeking nature-themed photographs from readers, including but not limited to child and adolescent psychiatrists, for publication in a future journal issue under the Arts, Literature, and Nature ...read more






Rural Mental Health initiatives operating in Bonnyville, Alberta

The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative started to operate in 2016.  This is a collaboration between the local primary care network (PCN), physician group, Alberta Health Services (AHS), school board, the town and municipal district (MD) of Bonnyville.  A local Nurse Practitioner (NP), Chantal Vallee, had a vision and was the champion of this collaborative. Now under ...read more

AMPQ releases action plan

In this regional news piece, Dre Taline Bedrossian and Dre Paola Habib (Québec Representatives on the CACAP Board of Directors) summarize a recently-developed "action plan" from the Association des Médecins Psychiatres du Québec ...read more

CACAP President releases A Call to Action

Last month, CACAP President Dr. Claire De Souza released "A Call to Action in Support of Child and Youth Mental Health in Canada."  In this Call to Action, Dr. De Souza highlights the high need for effective mental health treatment for children and youth, noting that stigma around mental illness remains problematic and that the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant ...read more


From the Prairie Bookshelf

In this latest regional news piece, Dr. Polina Anang (Prairies Region Representative on the CACAP Board of Directors) shares her views on recent literature by Indigenous authors that carries relevance to the practice of ...read more


AAP, AACAP, and CHA declare a national emergency in C&A mental health

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) have declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. This declaration acknowledges a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, that have contributed to a trend of worsening mental health for children and adolescents. The full declaration ...read more







CHAMPS in Northwestern Ontario

Children and youth mental health in Northwestern Ontario received wonderful news in March when the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care announced funding for hiring of up to six full-time child psychiatrists for the region.  This funding pairs with previous funding for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services (CAPS) with expanded allied mental health professionals announced last year to establish the Child & Adolescent Multidisciplinary Psychiatry Services (CHAMPS) Program.  ...read more




Annual CYMHSU CoP meeting held in Vancouver

The annual Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Community of Practice meeting was held in Vancouver on March 6, 2020.  This was attended about 75 physicians including Child Psychiatrists, Pediatricians, Family Doctors and Emergency Room Doctors, along with the President of the Doctors of BC, various government leaders including senior analysts from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of ...read more






CanREACH is expanding

Canadian Research and Education for the Advancement of Child Health (CanREACH) is dedicated to developing literacy in pediatric mental health for primary care providers.  This program is developed and licensed by The REACH Institute.  CanREACH uses evidence based adult education delivery to teach child and youth mental health treatment to learners over a six month ...read more


Young children need to move more

The World Health Organization (WHO) published new guidelines this spring regarding physical activity and sleep for children under 5 years old. They looked at the impact of lack of exercise and poor sleep on childhood obesity, mental health, and general wellbeing as well as long-term consequences of these poor lifestyle habits. They estimated that 80% of adolescents are not physically active ...read more

Ontario Needs Psychiatrists

Improving mental health care is an issue that has been routinely acknowledged as a priority in the Canadian health care system, and recent commitments to strengthening mental health services have reinforced the need for investment. Unfortunately, the issues within health care provider human resources has not been addressed alongside these service investments. In particular, the understaffing of psychiatrists – medical ...read more