What is it and why are we doing it?
This project looks at access to mental health facilities that diagnose and treat several child and youth mental health conditions across Ontario. Mental health concerns among children and youth have been increasing, yet many young people are still unable to access appropriate care. Early diagnosis and treatment matter, but they only help if services are actually within reach.
Access to mental health care is not the same across the province. Most specialized services are located in urban areas, while many rural and northern communities have far fewer options. For families living outside major centres, this often means travelling longer distances and having limited choice when looking for care.
By mapping facilities that diagnose and treat conditions including ADHD, ASD, and OCD using a CARI+ accessibility framework, this project shows how access to child and youth mental health care differs across Ontario.
What can it be used for?
- Identifying gaps in access to child and youth mental health diagnosis and treatment and informing policy to improve equitable access
- Comparing access to mental health services across different levels of rurality
- Highlighting geographical barriers that may delay early diagnosis or treatment.
- Extending mapping framework to examine access to other mental health services outside of those for ADHD, ASD, and OCD
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