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By: Anabelle Parenteau, Communications Specialist, CHEO

CHEO has launched a new after-care program specifically designed to support children, youth and their caregivers who are being discharged from inpatient mental health services.

In the weeks after leaving the hospital, children and youth are vulnerable to negative mental health outcomes, including repeat presentations to the emergency department and not getting connected to much-needed resources.

According to a study published in the American Medical Association Journal, a follow-up within seven days of leaving the hospital can reduce the need to get hospitalized again. In fact, a similar program in Peterborough reduced re-admissions significantly. “In my prior role as Division Lead, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, we developed a similar after-care program," said Dr. Joshua Smalley, medical director for CHEO's mental health inpatient services, “We reduced re-admissions from approximately 16 to 5 per cent." CHEO's new program aims to do just that.

Social worker Erica Cullen says the plan begins the moment a child or youth arrives at hospital, and it is important to customize each plan.

“My job is about helping my patients successfully transition back to their ​community by making sure they have the family and community supports and services they need," said Cullen. 

Step one is making sure kids won't need to wait for outpatient services after they get discharged. And helping them transition to next steps of care is equally important.

“The demand in mental health services has grown significantly over the years. It is important for our teams and programs to adapt to the increasing complexity of mental health issues," said David Murphy, director of CHEO's mental health services.

Because demand continues to grow, teams across CHEO have been finding more efficient and innovative ways to help kids get the mental health support they need, when they need it.

Before implementing Safer Transitions in March, CHEO opened the Mental Health Transition Unit, and hired Katrina Pullia, the hospital's first physician assistant in mental health services.

“This is an area that has so much need and that need has only increased since the pandemic. While much has been done by way of mental health services, there's so much more we can do," said Pullia.

Through this new role, she helps CHEO see more patients and provides faster access to care, working closely with an interdisciplinary team, and consulting with families and patients to create holistic care and treatment plans – always keeping discharge top of mind.