The University of Toronto and CAMH launched a new collaboration and partnered service in September 2022, to support post-secondary students at the University of Toronto with higher acuity and more complex mental health needs. The service supports the most vulnerable postsecondary students as they intersect with the acute-care hospital system, by optimizing a smooth transition from the hospital through the assistance of acute mental health navigation, facilitating a guided and supported return to campus and the community.
A mental health navigation service was created, in which two full-time clinical navigators provide complex care coordination, brief supportive psychotherapy and discharge planning for U of T postsecondary students presenting to the hospital emergency department and inpatient units at CAMH. A cross-appointed psychiatrist supports the service. Navigators respond to daily referrals of U of T students identified through the emergency department, urgent care clinic and inpatient units, and work in collaboration with U of T health and wellness centres, university partners and community agencies within the GTA. The service leverages the CAMH Electronic Medical Record to identify all U of T students who present to the emergency department as well as Measurement Based Care to measure impact and efficacy. The lnlight Student Mental Health Research Initiative provides research and evaluation leadership which is fully integrated into the service model.
Peer-reviewed Grant:
2022-2027: Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR): Cleverley, K (PI), Levinson, A (Co-PI), Daley, M, Stergiopoulos, V, Hamza, C, Freeland, A, Henderson, J, Ma, C, et al. Navigation to enhance post-secondary students’ acute mental health care transitions. $906,393.00 CDN.
Presentations:
2023:Addressing the needs of “High Risk” students In a Stepped Care 2.0 (SC 2.0) model. American College Health Association Conference (ACHA), May 2 2023, Boston, USA. Presenters: Levinson A, Jaouich A, Medina C.
Co-designed: A new university-hospital partnership to improve access and navigation of acute mental health services for students. CACUSS (Canadian Association of College & University Student Services), June 4 2023, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Presenters: Cleverley, K, Bartha, C, Chiasson, C, Levinson A.
A New Model of Care: A Co-Designed University-Hospital Partnership to Improve Access and Navigation of Acute Mental Health Services for Students. Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) Conference, Oct. 19 2023, Vancouver, Canada. Presenters: Levinson A, Bartha C, Cleverley K, Chiasson, C.