Empowering Young Minds With Innovative Care

Dr. Leslie Anne Campbell, the inaugural Sobey Family Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes, is pioneering a transformative approach in treating and tracking mental illness among young people. As an assistant professor in the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology at Dalhousie University, and a former mental health nurse, Dr. Campbell combines clinical insight with advanced research to enhance patient-centred mental health care.

Recognizing early in her career the need for precise, timely care for each patient, Dr. Campbell has been instrumental in integrating patient-centred outcomes research at the IWK Health Centre’s Mental Health & Addictions team. Her work focuses on ensuring that evidence-based care is effectively applied and quickly adjusted if needed, aiming to prevent rehospitalization and support youth in their everyday lives.

One notable innovation led by Dr. Campbell is the introduction of electronic questionnaires in the IWK’s community mental health clinics, enabling real-time, accurate tracking of patient functioning across various life aspects. Dr. Campbell is also actively involved in addressing the increasing emergency department visits by children and youth for mental health crises by engaging patients and families directly in research.

Holding a cross-appointment between the IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University, Dr. Campbell's role, made possible by the Sobey family, marks a significant advancement in child and adolescent mental health research in Canada.