Project 466101

A gap within implementation science research is that health research and policies largely focus on modifying or adapting current approaches rather than designing, developing, and implementing context-specific or culturally relevant health care. This is particularly important for Indigenous youth to achieve health equity given the unique but similar experiences of colonialism and assimilation across Indigenous Peoples within Canada and the differing cultural practices between communities. The current application is submitted on behalf of the ACCESS Open Minds (ACCESS OM) Indigenous Council, a group of key stakeholders from each of the six Indigenous community partners (Elsipogtog First Nation (NB), Eskasoni First Nation (NS), Sturgeon Lake First Nation (SK), Purvirnituq (Nunavik, QB), Aaschihkuwaataauch (Mistissini, QB), and Ulukhaktok (Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NWT)) who have been transforming youth mental health service delivery around five core principles: (1) Early identification; (2) Rapid access; (3) Appropriate care; (4) Continuity of care; and (5) Youth and family engagement. The current study uses a community participatory approach with the Indigenous Council grounded in the Four Rs (i.e., respect, relevancy, reciprocity, and responsibility) to address the following objectives: 1. to critically review Indigenous community partnered sites documents to identify and create wise practices of developing, implementing and evaluating youth mental health services in Indigenous contexts within Canada.; and, 2. to discuss mechanisms and supports that inform or hinder youth mental health systems change within other Indigenous contexts. This project will employ a case study approach to illustrate the many successes of the Indigenous sites and utilize semi-structure interviews with Indigenous youth and key stakeholders to identify recommendations on how to facilitate context-specific and culturally relevant youth mental health systems change in Indigenous contexts.