About the Project

The core objective of this research project is to improve access to mental health services for children and youth in the North Bay region. The study is centered on enhancing the ability of police officers to recognize mental health issues in at-risk young individuals, optimize early intervention and mitigate the challenges posed by extended waiting lists for services. In this pursuit, the project evaluated the effectiveness and credibility of the Brief Mental Health Screener Police Assessment (BMHS) by comparing it to the established Child and Youth Mental Health Screener (ChYMH-S).

The research also investigated how data gathered from North Bay police services aligns with patterns in the broader context of Ontario. A Train-the-Trainer program empowered the HANDS' mental health team, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding early assessments and interventions. This holistic approach aimed to enhance the support system for at-risk youth in North Bay while addressing systemic barriers.

Methodology

The research began with a literature review on police involvement in mental health assessment, which examined the reliability and validity of mental health assessment tools, particularly the interRAI Brief Mental Health Screener (BMHS). Methodologies for comparing BMHS and the Child and Youth Mental Health Screener (ChYMH) were developed. Data analysis compared BMHS and ChYMH data to assess their reliability and validity. This led to hospital staff receiving training in using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health Screener (ChYMH-S). BMHS data from North Bay Police were analyzed to assess trends and impacts. The study measured North Bay Police officers' knowledge and attitudes regarding BMHS..

Findings

• This project laid the groundwork for positive changes in the process and collaboration across agencies, aiming to enhance access to child and youth mental health services.

• Evidence also showed that over 70% of children/youth and their caregivers involved with the Child’s Aid Society have mental health or substance use conditions.

• Hospital frontline staff are now trained to use ChYMH-S, a reliable tool for identifying moderate-severe mental health conditions in children and youth, allowing for appropriate referrals, and prioritizing urgent needs.

• The training also increased police officers' awareness of indicators of mental health issues in young individuals, improving their ability to identify and refer those in need.

• There was a noticeable improvement in how well North Bay police officers can recognize and refer children and youth with moderate-severe mental health conditions to the hospital, fostering better relations with the ER staff.

Project Outreach

This project trained 50 police officers in Northern Ontario to handle youth mental health issues and created software for better referrals to mental health services. Officers improved at recognizing these challenges, leading to more referrals. It gained national attention through a CBC article and remained within Ontario without expansion.

Resources Created

• Presentations by Dr. Ron Hoffman before North Bay police officers (May 2023).

• Presentation by Dr. Ron Hoffman and Dr. Roxana Vernescu at the interRAI Children’s Meeting March 20, 21, 2023, St. Augustine, Florida, USA.

• The researcher’s contribution helped the project to create numerous other resources (click HERE to read about Drs. Hoffman, Benevides and Hinz’s project).