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ForwardMay 7, 2026: 5th Prager Lecture in Child Psychiatry - Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Systems of Care: A Canadian Experience (Ocean)
Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Systems of Care: A Canadian Experience
Description:
This lecture will compare the role of tertiary children’s hospitals within broader child and youth mental health and substance use systems of care across selected jurisdictions, with a focus on Canada, particularly British Columbia. It will examine how different systems organize specialized hospital-based services, community-based care, integrated youth services, and stepped or tiered models (Hickie et al., 2025; Waibel et al., 2021). Drawing on different youth mental health service models, this presentation will highlight how tertiary hospitals can contribute beyond direct care through consultation, system navigation, education, quality improvement, and support for complex clinical populations.
Target Audience
This program is intended for Psychiatrists, Psychologists, General and Family Practice Physicians, Psychiatric Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Social Workers.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants will be able to:
- Describe how tertiary children’s hospitals contribute to child and youth mental health and substance use systems of care.
- Compare the roles of tertiary children’s hospitals across selected international systems.
- Analyze how Canada’s system, with a focus on British Columbia, organizes tertiary, community, and cross-sector mental health and substance use services.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen alignment between tertiary hospital services and the broader system of care.
SPEAKER(S)
Roberto Britto Sassi, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Psychiatrist-in-Chief, BC Children’s Hospital / BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
BCCH Pediatric Mental Health Chair
Head, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UBC Department of Psychiatry
UBC Associate Professor (Partner Track)
Roberto Britto Sassi, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Dr. Sassi is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who received his training in medicine and psychiatry at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and at the Massachusetts General Hospital & McLean Hospital, Harvard University. Dr. Sassi joined BC Children’s Hospital & BC Women’s Hospital in Vancouver in 2021 as Psychiatrist-in-Chief and is Head of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at UBC. He is an Associate Professor, Dept of Psychiatry, and is the inaugural chair holder of the Pediatric Mental Health Endowed Chair at BCCH. Before coming to BC, Dr. Sassi held academic and leadership positions at McMaster University and the University of Miami.
Dr. Sassi has been involved in different aspects of research in mental health, as well as in vulnerable mothers and children in the Maternal Adversity Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) mother/child cohort. His most recent work focuses on systems of care for children, youth, and families struggling with mental health and substance use. Dr. Sassi has administrative experience in different organizations, including currently on the board of directors at the Canadian Psychiatric Association, and the vice-presidency of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Disclosures: No disclosures.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of IHP and Massachusetts General Hospital. IHP is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
IHP designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.00 Nursing Contact Hours
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 13, sections 13, 14, 14A, 15 and 15D and Chapter 112, sections 74 through 81C authorize the Board of Registration in Nursing to regulate nursing practice and education.
This program meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR 5.00) for 1.00 contact hours of nursing continuing education credit. Advance practice nurses, please note: Educational activities which meet the requirements of the ACCME (such as this activity) count towards 50% of the nursing requirement for ANCC accreditation.
- 1.00 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clock hours for continuing education credits.
- 1.00 Participation
This course allows other providers to claim a Participation Certificate upon successful completion of this course.
Participation Certificates will specify the title, location, type of activity, date of activity, and number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ associated with the activity. Providers should check with their regulatory agencies to determine ways in which AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may or may not fulfill continuing education requirements. Providers should also consider saving copies of brochures, agenda, and other supporting documents.
- 1.00 Psychologists CE Credit
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.00 CE credit.
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, MGH Institute of Health Professions is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
1.0 Physicians
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
1.0 Physician Associates/Assistants
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Live
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until {Expiration Date). PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
1.0 Nursing
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 contact hours for nurses. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
1.0 Pharmacists
This activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing education credit.
NOTE FOR PHARMACISTS: Upon closing of the electronic evaluation, IHP will upload the pharmacy-related continuing education information to the CPE Monitor within 60 days. Per ACPE rules, IHP does not have access nor the ability to upload credits requested after the evaluation closes. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist or pharmacy technician to provide the correct information [NABP ePID and DOB (in MMDD format)] in order to receive credit for participating in a CE activity.
1.0 Psychologists:
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 CE credit.
1.0 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 clock hours for continuing education credits.
1.0 IPCE Credit
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.