VIRTUAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN NOVA SCOTIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

This thesis aimed to identify factors influencing the implementation, delivery, and uptake of formal virtual mental health services for children and adolescents and related research gaps. A scoping review was conducted to map existing literature on virtual mental health care for children and adolescents with findings mapped using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. As formal studies often exclude children and youth who do not access services, a secondary analysis was performed using data from a cross-sectional survey of youth and parents in Nova Scotia, collected between June 2021 and April 2022. Virtual care was widely implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and may be a means of overcoming some barriers to care. Our findings highlight the importance of continued research to support effective and sustainable integration of virtual mental health services for children and adolescents.