It is recommended that organizations in Halton region invest more significantly in programs that focus on early intervention and prevention. Past research and best practices have clearly shown that early intervention is key to successful mental health treatment, yet many youth in Halton region are unable to benefit from early intervention due to long wait lists in existing mental health agencies.
“These kids who identified in kindergarten should not be sitting on a wait list for 18 months or 12 months or 6 months even, because you know what? You could probably stop a whole lot of stuff from happening if you were just to do some intensive work with that family right when they first came in.” (FW)
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (2013) has proposed a comprehensive school based mental health strategy that encompasses mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention programs.
