Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and especially as the situation continues, young people’s mental health has been significantly challenged, highlighting the need for realistic and effective interventions. This presentation has two main objectives. The first objective is to present findings from various studies conducted in Québec. These include the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, suicide surveillance data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), emergency department visit data from CHU Sainte-Justine, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These studies examine changes in youth mental health before and during the pandemic, focusing on symptoms of mental disorders and their severity, along with the use of mental health services, particularly emergency visits. The second objective is to describe École à Ciel Ouvert, a nature-based outdoor education intervention aimed at reducing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety among preadolescents. Over a 12-week period, students will go to a nearby park to learn subjects such as math, science, and French, as well as strategies that promote well-being and connection with nature, including mindfulness, philosophy, and the arts. The effectiveness of École à Ciel Ouvert will be evaluated through a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 2023.
*This video is only available in French.
