From institution to community: Exploring the challenges of caring for youth with severe mental illness

Care for youth with severe mental illness in the province of British Columbia is shifting from institutions to communities. This shift has not been accompanied by sufficient resources, in form of services, facilities and caregivers for the youth, their families and communities. A review of literature identified barriers to care as well as different models of care - residentialbased and community-based. Quantitative data helped establish need and available resources. Major findings show that there are not enough mental health services but also that implementation of new initiatives typically does not include a community perspective. The shift from institution to community requires a better understanding of communities, a greater knowledge of their resources and their sustainability. It also requires a central role for youth, their families and the greater community in all the stages of the actual mental health reform.