Avicenna Centre for Brain Health provides psychiatric services for children and adolescents up to the age of 17 who may be experiencing mental health challenges. Our physicians offer consultation, and our trained allied health professionals provide specialized assessment, diagnosis, treatment, education, and family support.
Young people are referred when emotional, behavioural, or psychiatric symptoms are affecting their lives at home, at school, or socially. Our role is to assess what is happening, provide clarity, and recommend a path forward, with the family closely involved throughout.
Children and teens may be referred for concerns such as anxiety, mood disorders, behavioural issues, psychosis-related symptoms, suicidal ideation, or other psychiatric symptoms. Assessment helps identify what is contributing and what support is appropriate.
Assessment for young people usually draws on information from more than one setting. It may include input from parents and caregivers, information from school, questionnaires, and clinical review. The psychiatrist provides consultation and recommendations, while the patient’s family doctor or nurse practitioner continues their ongoing care.
Mental health challenges in a child or teen affect the whole family. Our team provides education and family support alongside assessment, so parents and caregivers understand what is happening and how to help.
The psychiatric consultation is covered by your provincial health plan (MSP in British Columbia, AHCIP in Alberta) when you have valid coverage and a referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner. If attention or learning concerns are part of the picture, our ADHD Clinic also offers child and adolescent assessment.
Avicenna is a referral-based clinic and is not an urgent or crisis service. If your child or someone else is in crisis, please call 911, or call or text the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline.
We offer child and adolescent psychiatric care at our Delta, BC and Calgary, AB clinics. Contact the location nearest you, or learn more about our broader psychiatric services.
Our child and adolescent program serves youth up to the age of 17.
Yes. A psychiatric consultation requires a referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Yes. Family involvement is an important part of assessment and care for children and teens.
Ask your family doctor or nurse practitioner for a referral, then connect with the Delta or Calgary clinic.
