An evaluation of the Compassion, Inclusion, and Engagement initiative: learning from PWLE and communities across British Columbia.

Background: The Compassion, Inclusion and Engagement initiative (CIE) was a social contact intervention that operated in British Columbia between 2015 and 2021. The primary objective of CIE was to increase the participation of people with lived experience of substance use (PWLE) in the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of harm reduction supports and services.

Case Presentation: CIE used the developmental evaluation methodology outcome mapping to define and measure progress towards its goals.

Using novel methodology to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in British Columbia, Canada.

Purpose: A needs-based model of health systems planning uses a systematic estimate of service needs for a given population. Our objective was to derive annual prevalence estimates of specific mental disorders in the adult population of British Columbia, Canada and use a novel triangulation approach encompassing multiple data sources and stratifying these estimates by age, sex, and severity to inform Ministry partners, who commissioned this work.

Methods: We performed systematic literature reviews and subsequent meta-analyses to derive an annual prevalence estimate for each mental disorder.

Review: Mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and youth - a systematic review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented threat to global mental health. Children and adolescents may be more susceptible to mental health impacts related to their vulnerable developmental stage, fear of infection, home confinement, suspension of regular school and extracurricular activities, physical distancing mandates, and larger scale threats such as global financial recessions and associated impacts. Our objective was to review existing evidence of the COVID-19 pandemic's global impact on the mental health of children and adolescents <19 years of age and to identify personal and contextual factors that may enhance risk or confer protection in relation to mental health outcomes.

Estimating the Prevalence of Mental and Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Approach to Triangulating Available Data to Inform Health Systems Planning.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of specific mental and substance use disorders (MSUDs), by age and sex, as a first step toward informing needs-based health systems planning by decision-makers.

Methods: We developed a conceptual framework and a systematic methodology for combining available data sources to yield prevalence estimates for specific MSUDs. Data sources used included published, peer-reviewed literature from Canada and comparable countries, Canadian population survey data, and health administrative data from British Columbia.

From silos to buckets: a qualitative study of how sexual health clinics address their clients' mental health needs.

Objectives: To describe the current constraints, facilitators, and future prospects for addressing mental health and substance use (MHSU) concerns within sexual health clinics in two cities in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 22 providers (14 nurses, 3 physicians, 3 administrators, 2 other health professionals) from six sexual health clinics.

Results: Providers consistently affirmed that MHSU-related concerns co-occur with sexual health concerns among clients presenting to sexual health clinics.

The Need and Desire for Mental Health and Substance Use-Related Services Among Clients of Publicly Funded Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinics in Vancouver, Canada.

Context: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) and mental health and substance use (MHSU) disorders all occur at elevated rates in sexual and gender minorities. These overlapping epidemics, or syndemics, are exacerbated by challenges these same populations face in accessing sexual/gender minority-affirming services. Many publicly funded STI clinics are a low barrier and provide sexual minority-competent care.