The COVID-19 pandemic has indicated the urgent need to support youth mental health in the time of physical distancing and social isolation (1, 2). To address this need, Dr Patricia Conrod and the PreVenture team have adapted the evidence-based PreVenture program to be fully delivered online.

The PreVenture research team is now collaborating with partners across Canada through the Online PreVenture feasibility Study (OPfS) to rapidly evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and short-term impact of the PreVenture program when delivered to youth online during the pandemic. The study will compare the experiences of 500 teens attending high schools and accessing mental health services across Canada over the span of one year.

1. Jayasinha R, Nairn S, Conrod PJ. (2020). Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. doi.org/10.1177/0706743720943820;
2. Audet M, Jayasinha R, Conrod P. (2021). The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/falling-through-the-safety-net-youth-are-at-the-heart-of-canadas-mental-health-crisis-152525

The online adaptation of the PreVenture program will use a highly secure web-based delivery platform to share the program manuals in a online format and ensure that youth and trained facilitators have access to high-quality, personalised intervention material that will encourage participation during and after completion of the group sessions. The program will maintain much of its essential components (group-based, peer-interactions, facilitator-guided discussions, structured personality-targeted cognitive-behavioural exercises), but will be provided by trained facilitators to youth from a distance.

What is involved for youth? Youth ages of 11 to 18 (inclusive) who provide informed consent will be invited to complete a pre and 6-month post web-based survey on their health behaviours (45 minutes), participate in two online PreVenture workshops (90 minutes each) and provide their feedback on their experience of the online program via a short questionnaire (10 minutes).
PreVenture involves brief cognitive behavioural group workshops, led by a trained facilitator, where youth learn adaptive coping skills, set long term goals and channel their personality towards achieving them.

What involved for facilitators? Clinical and teaching professionals will have the opportunity to receive PreVenture facilitator training and deliver the online adapted program to youth in their communities. Focus groups with facilitators will be conducted by the study team to document their experience and feedback on delivering the online intervention.
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Contact us to find out more, by clicking the "Sign Up" button above and completing the contact form or email: onlinepreventurestudy@gmail.com

• Lead Site - Quebec: CHU Sainte-Justine
  NPI: Dr Patricia Conrod
  Research Assistants: Marion Audet & Nora Fripp
  
• Study sites:
  
• British Columbia:
  Kelowna CUSP - UBCO; Dr Marvin Krank
  Youth-friendly mental health resources*:
  - Youth in BC:  connects youth with support,
  information and resources. Online chat is available from 12pm to 1am in BC and Yukon Only.
  - Youth Space: Email chat line. Email youthtalk2@pcfsa.org to send a message to a professional youth counsellor.
  - British Columbia Mental Health Support: Call 310-6789. Available 24/7 for individuals who would like
  emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health anywhere in British Columbia.
  Foundry BC; Dr Steve Mathias & Dr Skye Barbic
  - Foundry Virtual at 1-833-F0UNDRY (1-833-308-6379) or download the Foundry Virtual app to book an appointment with one of our counselors or find support (https://foundrybc.ca/virtual/).
  - Youth in BC:  connects youth with support,
  information and resources. Online chat is available from 12pm to 1am in BC and Yukon Only.
  - Youth Space: Email chat line. Email youthtalk2@pcfsa.org to send a message to a professional youth counsellor.
  - British Columbia Mental Health Support: Call 310-6789. Available 24/7 for individuals who would like
  emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health anywhere in British Columbia.
  
• Ontario:
  Dilico Family Services, Thunder Bay; Dr Chris Mushquash & Meagan Drebit
  Toronto CUSP CAMH; Dr Hayley Hamilton & Dr Jurgen Rehm
• Quebec:
  Nunavik Board of Social Services, Nunavik: Amber Douthwright
  Montreal & Univenture: Dr Patricia Conrod & Dr Audrey Livet
• Nova Scotia:
  ‍Halifax & Cape Breton CUSP, Univenture: Dr Sherry Stewart
• Knowledge Users:
  Ontario: Kathy Short, Catherine Ford, Dr Joanna Henderson
  British Columbia: Dr David Smith
  Quebec: Selene Etches
  
  *These resources are listed by local site (BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia) and by area of specialty to help you navigate through them. We also included some background information to make it easier for you to find the right resource.

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