Children’s Mental Health
Introduction to Children’s Mental Health Workshop Series
The Children’s Mental Health Workshop is a case-based educational series designed to enhance participants’ knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence in assessing and managing mental health concerns in school-age children and adolescents.
This series uses a primary care lens to review foundational learning (Workshop 1) and more complex presentations (Workshop 2), providing a practical approach to child and youth mental health care.
Upcoming Workshop Details
Delivery Format: Online Workshop
Workshop 1: Foundations of Children’s Mental Health
Date: March 9, 2026 (1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST)
Cost: $250.00 + HST (per workshop)
Early bird discount of 20% will be automatically applied until February 13.
The program is seeking: One-credit-per-hour Mainpro+ certification.
Who Should Take These Workshops
This series is designed for family physicians, but other healthcare professionals working with children and youth are also welcome. Clinicians who wish to strengthen their capacity to identify, evaluate and manage mental health challenges across developmental stages will benefit from these workshops.
The program blends theory with practical strategies, equipping participants to deliver informed, compassionate and effective mental health care.
Foundations of Children’s Mental Health Workshop
The Foundations workshop focuses on the core principles of mental health assessment in children. Participants will explore how to take a comprehensive psychosocial history specific to school-aged children and adolescents; identify common childhood presentations, including adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression; and review essential concepts related to ADHD. The session emphasizes early identification through use of evidence-based screening tools and introduces pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management strategies. Attendees will also become familiar with practical tools and clinical resources that support management in primary and community care settings.
Topics include:
- Screening tools and identification of anxiety and depression in children and youth
- Principles of management for mild to moderate depression and anxiety in primary care
- Overview of ADHD, its behavioural manifestations and treatment
- Features and management of grief and adjustment disorder based on developmental stage
- Tools and resources for ongoing support
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of Workshop 1, participants will be able to:
- Carry out a comprehensive psychosocial mental health history for pediatric patients.
- Describe how children experience grief and/or adjustment disorder based on their developmental stage and apply strategies to support families through these transitions.
- Assess anxiety, depression and ADHD using age-appropriate, evidence-based tools.
- Initiate and monitor pharmacologic management for youth with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
- Initiate and monitor pharmacologic management for youth with ADHD.
- Screen for suicidal ideation using evidence-based tools and pathways.
- Identify adverse childhood experiences and strategies to mitigate impact.
Advanced Cases and Management of Children’s Mental Health
The Advanced workshop builds on the foundational knowledge from the Foundations session. More details on this workshop will be available in March 2026. Registration for this workshop will open at a later date. To be notified once registration opens, email us at ocfpcme@ocfp.on.ca.
Not sure which module to sign up for?
Read below to see who each module is best suited for and what you can expect to gain.
Still unsure?
Email us at ocfpcme@ocfp.on.ca with a few lines on your experience and learning goals, and we’ll recommend the best fit.