Our Approach

Adolescence and young adulthood is a vulnerable time for the development of mental health disorders. An estimated 15 to 21% of young people in Canada and around the world are exhibiting at least one diagnosable mental illness.

Early intervention is important to reduce the costs and improve health and wellbeing. Many barriers exist as services are fragmented, under-resourced and difficult to access which is why a system transformation is needed now. 

We believe that youth in Canada and around the world should benefit from the latest knowledge in youth mental health and substance use research. We believe that healthy young people everywhere means a healthy future.   

Why do we need system transformation? 

Calls for system transformation have been issued loudly and repeatedly by youth, families, service providers, and policy makers across service sectors. Currently however, disparate jurisdictions are tackling transformation independently, often investing limited resources to gather and assess knowledge already reviewed by others and implementing initiatives that duplicate instead of leverage existing work. Integrated Stepped Care Models (ISCMs) are emerging as the preferred evidence-informed and cost-effective way to address YMHSU disorders. 

What are Integrated Stepped Care Models?

ISCMs address youth needs across multiple domains of their lives (e.g., mental health, substance use, health, education, housing, etc.) with multi-sectoral partners (e.g., primary care, schools, addictions) included in the service delivery structure and service offerings across domains that are able to flex in intensity in response to changing youth needs. With ISCMs, youth and family members are at the core of the service decision-making process, creating smoother transitions between care components and more flexible engagement over time.

Care Models

The right level of care for the right need by the right provider at the right time.

Peer Support Educational PhysicalHealth Care MentalHealth Care Substance Use& Addictions Housing Vocational Educational Vocational Housing Peer Support Substance Use& Addictions MentalHealth Care PhysicalHealth Care
High Intensity and cost to system Low STAGE 00: Well Population Not identified as seeking treatmentPublic informationSelf-help strategiesMental Health Promotion STAGE 01: At Risk Groups Identification, active monitoring or referralEarly interventionsDigital mental health servicesPeer support Onset of care pathways STAGE 02: Mild Mental Illness Low intensity interventionsGPs and allied health services forthose who require themBrief therapy STAGE 03: Moderate Mental Illness High intensity interventionsFace to face primary care and clinician-assisted digital mental health STAGE 04: Severe Mental Illness Coordinated, multi-agency, face-to-faceclinical care including GPs, allied healthprofessionals and psychiatric care 01 02 00 03 04 01 02 00 03 04 High Intensity and cost to system Low STAGE 00: Well Population 00 Not identified as seeking treatmentPublic informationSelf-help strategiesMental Health Promotion 01 STAGE 01: At Risk Groups Identification, active monitoring or referralEarly interventionsDigital mental health servicesPeer support Onset of care pathways STAGE 02: Mild Mental Illness 02 Low intensity interventionsGPs and allied health services forthose who require themBrief therapy STAGE 03: Moderate Mental Illness 03 High intensity interventionsFace to face primary care and clinician-assisted digital mental health STAGE 04: Severe Mental Illness 04 Coordinated, multi-agency, face-to-faceclinical care including GPs, allied healthprofessionals and psychiatric care

What is Frayme’s role?

Frayme unites national and international partners across diverse disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences into a common knowledge exchange network that facilitates the implementation of evidence-based ISCM models across jurisdictions. 

Through local action, national collaboration, and international knowledge mobilization, we seek to redesign systems that better meet the holistic needs of young people, and thereby transform youth mental health and substance use care. 

Why Join Frayme?

Frayme provides a common platform for people to advance knowledge, best practices, policy, and care for youth mental wellness across Canada. We help you access the evidence, networks, and tools you need to take action. 

Joining the network will allow you to:

  • Increase your professional networks and learn from the work of colleagues in YMHSU around the globe.
  • Avoid duplication of effort and make the best use of valuable but limited resources.
  • Access relevant evidence from research, practice and lived experience.
  • Enhance your organization’s knowledge mobilization and implementation capacity. 
  • Profile your work on the global stage.
  • Contribute to system transformation locally, nationally, and around the globe. 

Our Network

There has never been a greater time for global collaboration and action. Together, we can transform the youth mental health and substance use systems and ensure youth across Canada and the world receive the care they need, when they need it.

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Stay up-to-date with Frayme and network opportunities through our newsletter, OnPoint. 

Join our Network
Network partners work alongside Frayme or other network partners in order to transform youth mental health and substance use services in Canada. Access the evidence, resources and tools you need to take action.