Article(s) September 2010

The stepped care model seems to be a promising approach for improving quality of care for people with common mental disorders. To recap, stepped care is a health care model where interventions are prioritized according to patient needs. When the patient’s health does not improve following the interventions offered, progression towards more complex care is considered. This model would improve the current organization of mental health services.

Supported Self-Management (SSM) is gaining increasing recognition as an essential component in the treatment of people suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders. Most practice guidelines (NICE, CANMAT) recommend it. Finally, it is also part of the Chronic Care Model, which is progressively more popular for both physical illnesses and mental disorders.

The prenatal period and early childhood years set a crucial foundation for an individual’s mental health. Protective and risk factors contribute to making children stronger or more vulnerable in the short, medium or long term, even though they may be subsequently altered by other factors. As a result, these periods are especially favourable for both the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental disorders.