Our clinic runs a bit differently than most other medical clinics. In our clinic, the healthcare team sets aside time to get to know you as an individual, focusing not just on medical issues but on you and your life as a whole.

In our clinic we take a whole person approach to care. We work with youth between ages 12-18. Some youth we see may have a medical condition already diagnosed, some may have undiagnosed conditions, others may have developmental and social challenges. For whatever reason, the youth we see have been impacted by health challenges that are interfering with their ability to function in their family life, school, and/or with their peers. Our clinic offers a comprehensive assessment. We can work on setting goals and finding resources which can lead to better health and wellbeing.

We might talk with you about friendships, dating, school, family, sexuality, jobs, home life, sleep, eating, health conditions, social activities, drugs, stress, and your mood and worries (just to name a few topics). We want to work with you to help you move successfully towards healthy adulthood. If needed, we can help with the transition to adult services. And if we are not the best place to help you meet your needs, we also offer referrals to other professionals and resources to find the best support.

Youth are seen on their own and with their families, caregivers, or support persons as we strive to encompass youth-friendly and family-centred care.

The BC Children's Adolescent Health Clinic is a tertiary provincial referral service of the Provincial Health Services Authority. The clinic accepts referrals for full consultations adolescents with complex health conditions from general pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, and psychiatrists.

The clinic accepts referrals for MARS-A (Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents) group from any medical or mental health provider, see Patient, Family and Healthcare Provider Handout (PDF) for details on MARS-A referrals.

The BC Children's Adolescent Health Clinic accepts referrals for assessment, consultation and/or short term treatment for the following issues:

• Complex comorbid chronic illness and mental health symptoms.
• Complex comorbid chronic illness and substance use.
• Concerns around coping, mental health, treatment adherence, adolescent risk behaviours, substance use, family conflicts, identity and/or school functioning, in the context of a chronic health condition.
• Education around readiness for transition to adult health care.
• Complex sexual health concerns in the context of another chronic health condition.
• Chronic complex pain, chronic fatigue, or somatic symptoms.
• Referrals for adolescents who are struggling with severe and complex health and functioning challenges, and where multiple care providers have been involved, will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

At times, we may offer telephone and/or telehealth consultations with providers, instead of face to face consultations with adolescents and families, as appropriate.

The BCCH Adolescent Health Clinic is unable to accept the following referrals:

• Referrals for mental health symptoms or substance use diagnoses alone, without a chronic health condition(s). For assistance accessing mental health specific resources, please contact your local Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) office, the BC Children's Hospital Compass program, or the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre.
• Referrals for sexual health issues alone, without complicating medical or mental health conditions. For assistance accessing confidential sexual health services, please contact your primary care provider, your local Youth Clinic, Foundry, or Options for Sexual Health.
• Referrals for primary eating disorders concerns (ex: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or Binge Eating Disorder). For assistance accessing eating disorders services, please contact your regional eating disorders program, or the Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program at BC Children's Hospita;.
• Emergency / crisis referrals. If you have a medical or mental health emergency, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or contact your local crisis service.
• Referrals from family physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Self-referrals from adolescents and/or families.
• Referrals for primary care, general pediatric concerns, case management, or psychotherapy (other than MARS-A Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents, or consultation on transition to adult health care for chronic health conditions – see above for details).

If you have already been to the Youth Health Clinic or have a referral placed already, you can call or e-mail the Youth Health Program Secretary at youthhealthprogram@cw.bc.ca directly to make an appointment at (604) 875-3472 or toll-free at 1-888-300-3088 extension 3472.

Please bring:

• Your BC Medical Card (Care Card)
• Any letters or reports from your doctor and school
• A list of your medications
• Any questions or ideas about what you want from the visit

Typically our first appointment will be about an hour and a half long. We will start by meeting with you and your support people (whether that is your family, caregiver, friend, or a social worker), so that we can understand everyone’s concerns, questions, experiences, and observations.

If you agree, we will also meet with you by yourself and talk to you to gain a better understanding of your situation from your own point of view. What we talk about is kept private (confidential) and is not shared with anyone outside of the team of professionals without your permission. We hope that this will help you to feel safe in talking to us about sensitive topics. There are a few limits to privacy, which are discussed below in the "Privacy and confidentiality" section.

You have the right to access your own health information and to be involved in your care. Please ask any questions you might have to make sure you understand the information.

Follow up visits are decided with you and your family before you leave from your first appointment. Typically we will see you 4-5 times for about 1 hour and then help you find supports closer to your home if longer-term support is needed. However, this varies for each person, and if you need more or fewer appointments we can make that happen. We make follow up appointments through our program secretary at youthhealthprogram@cw.bc.ca who can be reached at (604) 875-3472 or toll-free at 1-888-300-3088 extension 3472.

• I have the right to live and to have my pain and suffering treated, regardless of my age, gender or income.
• I have the right to be viewed first as an individual, then as a patient.
• I have the right to be treated as a unique individual with my own abilities, culture and language.
• I have the right to be afraid and to cry when I feel hurt.
• I have the right to be safe in an environment that is unfamiliar to me.
• I have the right to ask questions and receive answers that I can understand.
• I have the right to be cared for by people who perceive and meet my needs even though I may be unable to explain what they are.
• I have the right to speak for myself when I am able and to have someone speak on my behalf when I am unable.
• I have the right to have those important to me close by when I need them.
• I have the right to learn, relax and feel comfortable even if I am receiving care.
• I have the need to have my rights fulfilled.

Consenting to treatment means giving your doctor permission to treat you. Doctors aren't allowed to examine or treat you without your consent.

The age when children begin to give their own consent varies. It is not measured in years. You are able to give your own consent when you are able to fully understand your choices and their consequences. Until then, your parent or guardian will make these decisions for you.

If you have more questions about consent, talk to your health care provider.

When we discuss sensitive topics and ask you personal questions, your personal information will be kept private. No one will share your information without your knowledge and permission.

The only times this changes are:

1. If you are at risk of killing yourself
2. If you are at risk of seriously hurting someone else
3. If you have been abused or neglected by an adult

If any of those things happen, we would have to involve the necessary people to help keep you safe.

You have the right to information about yourself. We encourage you to ask questions and get involved in your health care. You can ask your nurse or doctor if you can read your medical chart. Your parents can also ask to see your chart, but they need YOUR permission first.

When you come to see a doctor in clinic, you might feel that they are asking you lots of questions. But what about YOUR questions? Asking questions during your appointment is a great way to be involved in your health care.

Here are some ideas about how you can get your questions answered:

• Plan ahead - think about what you want to ask and write the questions down. Keep track of your questions in your smart phone or on a piece of paper (check out this video on keeping track of your health information using your phone or tablet).
• During your appointment, write down the answers to your questions too!
• Make sure you understand the answer - ask the doctor or nurse to explain if you have any further questions. If you don’t understand, keep asking until you do.
• Ask an adult to help you to ask your questions.

Find more information on asking questions and being involved in your appointments in the Transition Youth Toolkit.

The BC Children’s Hospital Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a group of diverse, energetic youth aged 12-23 who meet monthly to work on projects to support youth-friendly, patient-centred care.

The YAC creates opportunities for youth leadership at BC Children’s as members build awareness of the needs of young people among faculty and staff, and strengthen connections between youth and their care providers.

The YAC operates under the leadership of the Division Adolescent Health and Medicine, and is managed by Sabrina Gill, Nurse Clinician, supported by Dr. Curren Warf, Division Head. For more information and to attend a meeting, contact Sabrina at sgill2@cw.bc.ca.

• Check out some of the YAC's past projects (PDF).
• Watch a video made by the YAC
  

Mindfulness means "paying attention in a particular way: On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally." Mindfulness-based clinical interventions teach mindfulness meditation skills, and have been shown to help people cope with chronic stress, pain, and mood symptoms. MARS-A is an 8-week outpatient training program to teach adolescents (age 15 - 19 years) mindfulness skills to cope with psychological distress, including depressive and anxiety symptoms, chronic pain, and chronic stress. MARS-A is a partnership between Adolescent Medicine and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at BC Children's Hospital.

• Information for Patients and Families (PDF)
• Information for Health Care Providers (PDF)

For more general information on mindfulness with children and youth, including a short video, check out the BC Children's Hospital Centre for Mindfulness page