Mental health and substance use in children, youth and families during COVID-19: Findings from two CIHR-funded Knowledge Syntheses

Virtual care is underused. Guidance and evidence exists and should be used to help youth with chronic pain and their families select and implement best practices for their virtual care. Dr. Katie Birnie and Justina Marianayagam, a patient partner, will present findings from a knowledge synthesis, Rapid Evidence and Gap Map of Virtual Care Solutions for Youth and Families to Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pain, Mental Health and Substance Use, and take questions about leveraging and implementing virtual care, selecting virtual care platforms, and other considerations for using virtual care to support youth with chronic pain and their families.

During times of uncertainty, it is crucial to focus on mental and emotional well-being to navigate difficult circumstances in a healthy way. Decisions on how to manage mental health of children and adolescents should be based on the best available evidence. Dr. Salima Meherali will present the results of her team's knowledge synthesis, Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID‑19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review. The team identified and analyzed available studies about the effectiveness of different interventions used in a pandemic context to promote children and adolescent’s mental health and to prevent substance use. She will also address knowledge gaps in this area.

Target Audience:
Pediatric/youth healthcare practitioners,
Patients,
Families,
Researchers,
Trainees

Learning outcomes:
- Best practices for virtual management of chronic pain
- Impact of pandemic on pain, mental health, and substance use
- Managing mental health and well-being for children and youth during pandemic

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