May 14, 2025
The ACCESS Open Minds project was launched in 2014 to address gaps in access to quality mental health care, especially for Indigenous, remote and underserved communities. Findings published in JAMA Psychiatry provide the first assessment of the program’s outcomes across Canada.
This national project, led by principal investigator Dr. Srividya Iyer, shows that redesigning mental health services for young people can significantly reduce waiting times and enable more young people to access care..
“We focused on transforming existing programs in clinics, schools and youth centres to make them more accessible, youth-friendly and culturally appropriate.”
– Dr. Srividya Iyer
A measurable impact
Obtaining mental health care often involves going through a professional, a process that the authors find time-consuming and discouraging for young people. The ACCESS Open Minds program facilitates access to mental health care for young people by enabling them to seek help directly, without going through a professional. The program aims for an assessment within 3 days and the start of treatment within 30 days – timescales rarely met in the public network. In four years, nearly 8,000 young people (aged 11 to 25) have been referred to services at 11 sites, with the majority assessed in less than three days. The number of referrals has increased by 10% every six months.
“At our downtown Montreal site for homeless youth, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of young people accessing services. Even with this increased demand, with just two additional staff, we were still able to see the majority of young people within 72 hours.”
– Dr. Srividya Iyer
Model has helped shape Quebec’s Aire ouverte network
Five Quebec communities, including Nunavik and Montreal, have benefited from the program. Unique spaces have been created, such as a garage transformed into a space for young hunters, or artistic workshops with Cirque Hors Piste for homeless youth. The model has inspired the Aire ouverte network and other projects across the country. The team is now tackling the systemic causes of mental distress: ecoanxiety, housing, precarious employment, AI.