Child and Youth Mental Health in Canada, Second Edition is a relationally focused text that offers practical strategies for working with children, youth, and families who may struggle with mental health concerns. This volume discusses notions of mental health through a decolonized lens and weaves together socio-cultural perspectives for understanding mental health diagnoses and associated behaviours. Written by scholars and professionals in the field, chapters are written from diverse practice-oriented and theoretical frameworks based on the expertise and life experiences of the contributors. Focusing learning through real-world case studies, the chapters present unique perspectives as they probe into specific concerns and complications observed in different settings of front-line practice. These perspectives illuminate setting-appropriate interventions and activities to meet the needs of practitioners and clients, including the unique needs of immigrant, refugee, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ children, youth, and their families. Thoroughly updated to include greater focus on decolonization and updates to statistics, data, special studies, and changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, this foundational new edition is well suited for university-and college-level programs in child and youth care, social work, teaching, and human services.

Child and Youth Mental Health in Canada is the first book to cover child and adolescent mental health from a practical, settings-based approach. Rather than focusing on disorder etiology or diagnostic criteria, the cases in this book emphasize how mental health concerns manifest themselves in a variety of service contexts. Each chapter, contributed by a practitioner in the human services, provides an overview of the setting to create the context for practice. The contributors present appropriate interventions and activities for that setting, including interventions specific to the unique needs of refugee, indigenous, and LGBTQ children and youth. Covering trauma-based behaviours and attachment difficulties, practitioner wellness, residential care, in-patient care, school settings, family homes, recreational settings, secured programs, and juvenile justice, this collection will help to prepare future front-line professionals to effectively provide mental health support across milieus. This book is suitable for undergraduate child and adolescent mental health courses in child and youth care, psychology, child and family studies, and social work.

Specifically designed to meet professional practice needs, Introduction to Mental Health for Child and Youth Care encourages practitioners to participate fully in integrated mental health teams; knowledgeably advocate for accessible and quality care; and understand mental health from different perspectives, including Indigenous wellness, attachment theory, resilience, trauma-informed care, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The first half examines the practitioner’s role in mental health care, Indigenous perspectives on wellness and cultural safety, the epidemiology of mental disorders, the brain and its functions, the ascertainment of diagnoses, and suicide intervention. The second half explores symptoms and interventions of various disorders common in child and adolescent populations, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, feeding and eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Additionally, the text features links to additional readings and online videos, questions for reflection, and activities. Recognizing the importance of mental health literacy in the child and youth care field, this pedagogically rich and practical resource is essential for students and practitioners in child and youth care as well as human services and social work.

More than a quarter of a century has passed since Canada promised to recognize and respect the rights of children under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ratification of the Convention cannot, however, guarantee that everyone will abandon proprietary notions about children, or that all children will be free to enjoy the substance of their rights in every social and institutional context in which they find themselves, including—and perhaps especially—within families. This disconnect remains one of the most important challenges to the recognition of children’s rights in Canada. The authors argue that social toxins are as harmful to children’s independent welfare and developmental interests as environmental toxins, and that both must be eradicated if Canada is to fulfill its commitments under the Convention. They also argue that if Canada wishes to ensure the substance of the rights outlined in the Convention are socially guaranteed, an attitudinal or cultural shift is required concerning the moral and legal status of children. This revised, expanded, and updated edition of the bestselling Challenge of Children’s Rights for Canada will be of interest to academics, policymakers, parents, teachers, social workers, and human service professionals—indeed to anyone who cares about and for children.

A Concise Introduction to Mental Health in Canada offers a unique contribution to the mental health literature. It covers the full spectrum of mental health issues in Canada, incorporating insights from both the physical and social sciences to expand the way readers think about mental health. Interdisciplinary and reader-friendly, this book introduces students to a wide range of topics, including substance use, children and youth, discrimination, workplace mental health, culture, gender and sexuality, diagnosis, treatment, and mental health professions. This second edition has been updated to highlight recent scientific data, changes in terminology, new insights in the field, and timely and relevant examples of mental health issues and success stories. This engaging text provides a superb grounding for students of medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, and public health.

The first of its kind, this practicum-specific resource serves as an accompanying guidebook for fieldwork, placement, or classroom instruction in child and youth care practice. Child and Youth Care in the Field: A Practicum Guidebook uses critical reflection to facilitate student learning and growth throughout the practicum experience. Students can apply and build upon the theory and skills acquired during their fieldwork by utilizing the engaging workbook features and writing spaces included in the text. This resource helps prepare students for practicum and expand their self-awareness by discussing the challenges and difficulties they will encounter in the field, and by providing insight on how to navigate the decision-making process. With the increasing need for a hands-on resource in child and youth care studies, this book is well suited for first year, field placement, and professional skills courses in child and youth care programs at the college and university level.