There has been a spike in post-secondary student suicides and other mental health concerns on campuses across Canada, further exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Despite significant efforts to increase the capacity of campus mental health services, there is a substantial gap in research evidence in mental health service design and delivery for post-secondary students, particularly those with new-onset or highly acute mental health care needs, who may require hospital admissions to manage their illness. Canada has seen a significant increase in emergency department visits and hospital admissions by youth for mental health and substance use, yet less than 50% receive psychiatry-related aftercare post-discharge, resulting in high rates of rehospitalization and worsening of illness. This critical health system gap requires improved pathways for students between hospital and campus- or community-based mental health services.
Our Study
This study will tailor and evaluate the Navigator Model intervention to support complex transitions from acute mental health services to campus- and community- based mental health services for postsecondary students with emerging or acute mental illness. The Navigator Model is currently being tailored to the post-secondary setting in partnership with patients and clinical staff across three hospitals and three post-secondary campuses in the Greater Toronto Area. This project will engage national collaborators to complete the co-design process to tailor the Navigator Model to ensure scalability and spread across Canadian communities. The Navigator Model will be evaluated through a one-stage, single arm study with accompanying qualitative evaluation.
Utilizing the Navigator Model to improve transitions from hospital-based mental health services to campus- and community-based mental health care has the potential to result in improved continuity of care, increased satisfaction of PSS with mental health care, improved long term trajectories of mental health and functioning, and reduced burden on campus health and wellness services.
Our Partners
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Our Funders
