As populations age worldwide, the gap between mental health needs and available expertise for older adults continues to widen. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 14 per cent of adults over 70 live with a mental disorder.  What’s more, older adults are more vulnerable than their younger counterparts to the negative impacts of mood disorders such as cognitive decline and higher mortality according to a Health Report by Statistics Canada.  

Many clinicians caring for older adults, particularly those outside academic centres or in resource-limited settings, having limited access to specialized education in geriatric mental health. A Baycrest-led initiative is helping close these persistent gaps in geriatric mental health care by connecting clinicians around the world to high-quality education and peer support. 

Launched in 2022, the International Geriatric Mental Health Education Network (I-GeMH) was founded by Baycrest Drs. Cindy Grief and Chris Kitamura to provide continuing education and opportunities to connect clinicians caring for older adults with peers across regions and care settings. 

Demand has been strong since the program’s inception and today, I-GeMH engages more than 3,400 clinicians across 111 countries and six continents. 

A Global Approach to Shared Challenges 

I-GeMH offers monthly virtual rounds that feature interactive, case-based sessions grounded in real-world clinical challenges. Topics include dementia, delirium, depression, anxiety, loneliness and the mental health impacts of climate change on older adults. 

The impact is felt across hospital, community, long-term care and rural settings with a professionally diverse participant pool that includes psychiatrists, geriatricians, primary care providers, nurses, social workers, psychologists and other allied health professionals. 

The initiative is led by Baycrest Psychiatry, with partners including the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program Organization, the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry, the Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health and the International Psychogeriatric Association. These collaborations support globally relevant, culturally informed content. 

Accessibility is central to the model. About 20 per cent of participants are based in low- and middle-income countries and sessions reflect diverse cultural perspectives. 

From Knowledge to Practice 

The program is driving measurable impact. Nearly all participants report increased knowledge and 80 per cent say they apply what they learn in practice. Satisfaction rates consistently exceed 90 per cent. 

I-GeMH also includes a continuous learning community. A 500-member WhatsApp group supports real-time discussion, resource sharing and peer consultation, with more than 1,000 posts each year. This ongoing connection helps reinforce learning and supports clinicians managing complex cases. 

Scaling Impact 

Participation continues to grow, with attendance increasing 40 per cent year over year and peak sessions drawing more than 500 participants. 

In 2025, a French-language series reached more than 1,100 clinicians across 36 countries, demonstrating the model’s adaptability. 

Future plans include additional language streams, expanded partnerships and further development of digital and microlearning strategies. 

As demand for geriatric mental health expertise grows, I-GeMH offers a scalable model to strengthen the workforce and improve care for older adults worldwide. 

Get Involved 

I-GeMH rounds are accessible to clinicians through a simple, open process. Interested professionals can email igemh@baycrest.org to join the network and receive registration details for monthly virtual sessions.  

Delivered online, the rounds are accessible globally and designed to remove geographic barriers to participation. Many participants also join an active WhatsApp community that supports ongoing discussion, resource sharing and peer consultation between sessions, extending learning beyond the formal rounds.