We’re working to build capacity and address our sector’s knowledge needs to enable collaborative, comprehensive mental health and substance use and addictions care for Ontario’s children, young people and families.

Why integrated care matters

Many children and young people with substance use health or addictions concerns experience concurrent mental health challenges. It’s not just that these challenges co-exist – addictions and substance use can impact mental health and vice versa, often resulting in more complex care needs. Accessing services can be complicated, with multiple providers, different triage processes and long waiting lists.

Families need high-quality programs that address mental health and substance use health and addictions together, with a focus on harm reduction and providing more options to support behavioural addictions.

What is harm reduction?

Harm reduction is an approach that aims to reduce the physical, emotional, social and economic harms of addictions and problematic substance use. It focuses on reducing stigma to improve well-being and self-worth, recognizing that stigma can limit access to healthcare, education, employment opportunities, housing and other supports. 

Harm reduction is an evidence-based, person-first approach that recognizes that some people may not want, be ready, or be able to completely stop activities that may be harmful.  

What are behavioural addictions?

Behavioural addictions are habits and activities that become excessive or obligatory, interfering with school, work or social relationships. These activities can include gambling, compulsive gaming or television watching, eating disorders, sex addiction and more.

Behavioural addictions don’t involve chemical intoxicants or substances. They impact a brain’s “reward system” through the body’s own biochemical processes. In other words, people with behavioural addictions are dependent on the feeling they get when they engage in particular behaviours. 

Understanding priorities, informing next steps

In 2023, after many months of consultations with agency leaders, service providers, young people and families, we released a report capturing our sector’s priorities, strengths, challenges and needs related to substance use and addictions. Cannabis use and problematic technology emerged as primary concerns. The findings have guided our next steps, including the development of additional resources (linked below) and are helping shape a shared path forward for the sector.

Check out the report summary or access the full report below.

As well, we’ve funded two projects to advance integrated mental health and substance use and addictions care for young people in Ontario through our latest round of impact grants, offered in partnership with Mental Health Research Canada. Learn about our impact grants and the selected projects.

Additional resources

Mental health impacts of screen use for children and young people

Excessive screen time can impact physical and mental health. Many children and young people were already exceeding guidelines and recommendations for screen use before the COVID-19 pandemic, and research shows that physical distancing measures have actually increased screen time. This evidence summary compiles the latest research on the mental health impacts of screen use and highlights ways screen time can be managed to reduce negative effects. 

Read the evidence summary 

Pathways to care for youth with concurrent mental health and substance use disorders

Concurrent disorders occur when mental health challenges and substance use disorders happen at the same time. Youth with concurrent disorders often face complex needs and barriers to accessing care across systems. This resource explores the issue and offers recommendations to improve coordinated, integrated services for young people.

Read the report

Technology use: Early years to transition years

The purpose of this evidence brief is to increase our understanding of technology use across different developmental stages, from early years to transition years. This resource describes the advantages and cautions that come with technology use, including problematic technology use (PTU). Understanding technology use and PTU across all stages will better prepare service providers to support children, teens, and young adults to deal with challenges from their experiences with technology.

Read the evidence brief

Young people in the digital era: Understanding risks and promoting well-being

Digital technology has become an essential part of our daily lives, transforming the way we work, study, and communicate with others. This evidence brief is designed to equip service providers in the child and youth mental health and addictions sector with the information and tools they need to help young people safely navigate the digital world.

Read the evidence brief