Transforming Child and Youth Mental Health Care via Innovative Technological Solutions

Antonio Pepler; Katherine M Boydell; John Teshima; Tiziana Volpe; Peter G Braunberger; Debbie Minden

doi:10.12927/hcq.2011.22368

Transforming Child and Youth Mental Health Care via Innovative Technological Solutions

Healthc Q. 2011:14 Spec No 2:92-102. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2011.22368.

Authors

Antonio Pepler¹, Katherine M Boydell², John Teshima³, Tiziana Volpe⁴, Peter G Braunberger⁵, Debbie Minden⁶

Affiliations

¹ MD, FRCPC, is the medical director of the TeleLink Mental Health Program at The Hospital for Sick Children, and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Pignatiello is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with specialist training in adolescent forensics.
² PhD, is senior scientist for the Community Health Systems Resource Group and scientific director of qualitative inquiry for Child Health Evaluative Sciences at The Hospital for Sick Children. She is also associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She can be reached by phone at 416-813-8469.
³ BSc, MD, FRCPC, MEd, is the education coordinator for the TeleLink Mental Health Program at The Hospital for Sick Children; staff psychiatrist in the Department of Psychiatry at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He can be reached by phone at 416-480-6100, ext. 3077.
⁴ MSc, is research manager for the Community Health Systems Resource Group at The Hospital for Sick Children, and a doctoral student at the University of Toronto's Institute of Medical Science. You can contact her by phone at 416-813-7205.
⁵ MD, FRCPC, is a liaison with Aboriginal communities for the TeleLink Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children; staff psychiatrist at St. Joseph's Care Group, in Thunder Bay, Ontario; and a consultant with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Dr. Braunberger is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with special interest and expertise with Aboriginal populations. He can be contacted by phone at 807-624-5818.
⁶ PhD, CPsych, is the telepsychology lead for the TeleLink Mental Health Program; staff psychologist in the Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children; and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. She can be reached by phone at 416-813-6784.

PMID: 24956431
DOI: 10.12927/hcq.2011.22368

Abstract

Live interactive videoconferencing and other technologies offer innovative opportunities for effective delivery of specialized child and adolescent mental health services. In this article, an example of a comprehensive telepsychiatry program is presented to highlight a variety of capacity-building initiatives that are responsive to community needs and cultures; these initiatives are allowing children, youth and caregivers to access otherwise-distant specialist services within their home communities. Committed, enthusiastic champions, adequate funding and infrastructure, creativity and a positive attitude represent key elements in the adaptation of this demonstrated user-friendly modality.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child Psychiatry / methods
Child, Preschool
Humans
Mental Disorders / therapy
Mental Health Services* / organization & administration
Ontario
Program Evaluation
Psychology, Child / methods
Referral and Consultation
Rural Health Services / organization & administration
Telemedicine / methods*
Videoconferencing