Ecosystem for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Addictions
According to available information, the Ecosystem for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Addictions is the first of its kind in the world. It will ensure that no matter where children and youth are in their mental health journey, the IWK will be there to help them navigate the care they need, when and where they need it.
By working together, this ecosystem will provide earlier intervention, a reduction in wait times and access to the care children and youth need in an environment that supports their treatment and recovery.
What does the ecosystem include?
This provincial ecosystem includes the Garron Centre for Child & Adolescent Mental Health, the Emergency Mental Health and Addictions space (EMHAS) in the new IWK Emergency Department, Integrated Youth Services-NS (IYS-NS) and a reimagined therapeutic environment for IWK mental health and addictions intensive services in the community.
The IWK’s Ecosystem is revolutionizing how children and youth access mental health support
The IWK is the only facility in the country that has the expertise and care models to deliver all levels of mental health and addictions (MHA) care to children, youth and their families — ranging from community-based services such as outpatient clinics; shared care community clinics and integrated youth services; to highly specialized inpatient, intensive services and emergency care for severe illness.
As a result, it is uniquely positioned to create this Ecosystem that will also include embedded research— creating the blueprint for other health centres and jurisdictions around the world to emulate.
