Donors fund program to combat 'epidemic' of adolescent mental health disorders

Dr. Perry Adler directs the Jewish General Hospital's Vicki and Stan Zack Adolescent Family Health Unit and its In-House Adolescent Psychology Service (TIPS).

Clinical psychologist Dr. Perry Adler, who directs the Vicki and Stan Zack Adolescent Family Health Unit at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH), paints a grim picture of the impact of recent years on young people.

“The pandemic has been hard on all ages, but it has been hardest on those aged 10 to 20,” he said. “This is a time when children are trying to individuate from their parents, but instead the pandemic has put everyone under pressure. They were stopped from doing so many things.

As a result, he says, they have suffered losses and failed experiences that cannot be recovered, which can lead to depression and other mental health problems.

The effects of the pandemic have added to long-standing and growing mental health problems among young people due to social media use, which is also isolating, Dr. Adler said.

“You see it all the time: parents and children outside, but everyone is looking at their phones and not talking to each other. As a result, they don't practice their social skills, which in many cases can lead to social anxiety when they need to be social.

This, says Dr. Adler, is why the work of TIPS – the In-House Adolescent Psychology Service within the JGH Adolescent Health Unit – is so important. This is a vital service funded by donations from the JGH Foundation. “We really appreciate the funds we receive from donors,” Dr. Adler said. “They support innovative programs that are important for early intervention, essential workshops for school staff, and helpful resources for adolescents.” Services are needed more than ever.

“Today we are facing a pandemic of mental health problems, particularly among young people. This is the worst I've seen.

Feeling insecure and lacking confidence

Many young people face great insecurity and a lack of confidence, to the point where, according to Dr. Adler, they fear that even their best friend won't like them. “Young people have a greater feeling of mistrust. It's very concerning if you feel like you can't even trust your best friend.

The TIPS program offers 16 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy, although many can make significant progress in 8 to 12 sessions. Therapy typically begins with weekly sessions, which are then spaced out as the patient progresses, so that most individual programs last five or six months. TIPS also refers patients, if necessary, to further treatment through services in their locality and helps them access these services when needed, although some do not need further support after their sessions. Group therapy is offered to those waiting to begin individual psychotherapy. These group therapies take a transdiagnostic approach to teaching strategies to better regulate strong, unpleasant emotions and reduce the urge to engage in non-suicidal self-harm behaviors or commit suicide.

Most TIPS participants have problems with depression and anxiety, but others may include obsessive-compulsive tendencies, personality disorders, psychoses, mania, and eating disorders. More teenagers, he said, now find themselves facing issues related to their sexual orientation and gender identity, which can lead to anxiety and social problems.

Governments at all levels greatly underestimate mental health disorders and their impact, Dr. Adler noted. Currently, in the public system, you often have to wait 6 to 18 months for psychotherapy, he said, adding, “It's outrageous.”

Additionally, there are very few resources available for adolescents, a gap that the JGH is working to fill, although it is intimidating, Dr. Adler said. “Our work amounts to trying to fill a huge repository. We have shovels and every shovel helps, but what we really need is a bunch of backhoes.

Mental health awareness in schools

In addition to providing therapists, donor funding allows for program development and school outreach. The Teenage Health Unit provides workshops to school staff to help them identify and manage adolescents experiencing behavioral and mental health issues. The Adolescent Health Unit also visits secondary schools, providing interactive bio-psychosocial education, answering questions that students submit anonymously and informing them on how to make an appointment to obtain help.

The Adolescent Health Unit does not only help young people in the Montreal region. She has carried out workshops with the Cree School Board of Mistissini where there is only one psychologist serving a very large and often isolated population. “Our program trains teachers to recognize and address problems that young people are having and to catch them early,” Dr. Adler said. “We're trying to be proactive to get them earlier and get them treatment.”

One issue that remains to be resolved concerns attitudes toward mental health disorders. “There is definitely less stigma around getting help for mental health issues, but unfortunately it still exists,” Dr. Adler said. Another challenge may be that students are sometimes eager to access care, but parents are reluctant due to their own attitudes or cultural background.

In Quebec, however, anyone aged 14 and over can obtain the medical care they want without their parents' knowledge. “Therefore, no one else needs to know that they are receiving treatment,” Dr. Adler said. “We prefer parents to be involved, but it’s not necessary. Often, our treatment helps them learn to communicate better with their parents.

Donations also help Teenage Health Unit staff communicate more effectively with their adolescent patients. The funding allowed the program to overcome a problem faced by staff, namely that young people are notoriously incapable of answering “old fashioned” phone calls. Staff at the Teenage Health Unit now have inexpensive cell phones and plans that allow them to reach patients via text message – their preferred method of communication.

To make a donation to the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, please go to www.fondationjgh.org

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