Development of the Strengths, Skills, and Goals Matrix: a tool for facilitating strengths-based adolescent and young adult engagement in research.

Background: The involvement of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with lived experience of health and mental health conditions as partners in research is increasing given the prominence of participatory approaches to research, including patient-oriented research (POR). Much of the relevant research is conducted by graduate students. While guiding AYA engagement frameworks and models exist, the processes of partnering with AYAs in patient-oriented graduate-level research projects have not been well established.

Transition readiness of youth with co-occurring chronic health and mental health conditions: A mixed methods study.

Background: A large proportion of youth with chronic conditions have mental health comorbidities. However, the effect of these comorbidities on paediatric-adult transition readiness, and the relevance of widely used tools for measuring transition readiness, are unknown.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to describe and explore the transition readiness of youth with co-occurring chronic health and mental health conditions using a combination of quantitative data obtained from participants completing the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) and qualitative data.

"They go hand in hand": a patient-oriented, qualitative descriptive study on the interconnectedness between chronic health and mental health conditions in transition-age youth.

Background: Transition-age youth (TAY) with chronic health conditions frequently experience co-occurring mental health conditions. However, little is known about the perspectives of TAY with co-occurring diagnoses preparing to exit pediatric health and mental health services. Research is needed to understand the impact of a mental health condition on transition readiness and self-management in TAY with chronic health conditions.

Association between transition readiness and mental health comorbidity in youth with chronic health conditions.

Purpose: Between 33 and 59% of youth with chronic health conditions experience mental health conditions. Transition readiness, or the acquisition of knowledge and self-management skills, facilitates successful transition to adult care. Transition readiness among youth with co-occurring chronic health and mental health conditions has not been explored.

"To Be a Guy Is to Be Human": Outcomes of the WiseGuyz Program Through Photo-Based Evaluation.

Gender-transformative approaches (i.e., approaches that support male-identified individuals to critique and resist stereotypical male gender role norms that negatively affect health and well-being) are increasingly recognized as a key health promotion strategy.

A meaningful focus: Investigating the impact of involvement in a participatory video program on the recovery of participants with severe mental illness.

Objective: The overall aim of the present paper is to elicit the subjective perceptions and experiences of people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) involved in a Participatory Video project, with a focus on self-reported impact on recovery. There are 2 subobjectives, namely (a) to document which specific aspects (if any) of Participatory Video project participation are reported to positively influence recovery; and (b) to assess the impact of project involvement on specific dimensions of recovery.

Method: In this project, 3 workgroups of people with Severe Mental Illness met approximately twice per week over a 2-year period to make and disseminate educational videos about mental illness.

Communities of practice: acknowledging vulnerability to improve resilience in healthcare teams.

The majority of healthcare professionals regularly witness fragility, suffering, pain and death in their professional lives. Such experiences may increase the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue, especially if they are without self-awareness and a healthy work environment. Acquiring a deeper understanding of vulnerability inherent to their professional work will be of crucial importance to face these risks.

Can participatory video reduce mental illness stigma? Results from a Canadian action-research study of feasibility and impact.

Background: Evidence suggests that stigma against people with mental illness remains high. This demands innovative approaches to reduce stigma. One innovative stigma reduction method is participatory video (PV), whereby marginalized people come together to script, film and produce bottom-up educational videos about shared issues.

Perceptions of Paratransit Accessibility Among Persons With Disabilities: An Adapted Photovoice Study.

This article describes an adapted photovoice study that explored the facilitators and barriers to accessing paratransit services among people with disabilities. This 18-month study involved adults with disabilities developing photovoice stories about their paratransit experiences in Eastern Canada. The photovoice stories represent an in-depth examination of the familial, social, geographical, and environmental factors and their complex association with paratransit services.

Media coverage of mental illness: a comparison of citizen journalism vs. professional journalism portrayals.

Evidence suggests that mainstream media coverage of mental illness tends to focus on factors such as crime and violence. Thus, mental health advocates have argued that alternative portrayals are necessary to reduce stigma. The aim of this paper is to compare the tone and content of mainstream TV coverage of mental illness with educational videos produced by citizen journalists with mental illness.