ECHO® Programs

ECHO is a model of knowledge sharing among healthcare professionals to improve the delivery of care. This educational initiative reinforces clinical knowledge and skills by sharing evidence-based practices through interaction with peers and analysis of real cases. ECHO participants join a virtual community to learn, advise and share experiences.  

In December 2022, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux appointed the Douglas Mental Health University Institute as the provincial coordinator for ECHO programs in mental health, addiction and homelessness. Our activities include training on the ECHO model and managing the logistics of launching an ECHO program. 

Here are the 5 Steps to follow when proposing an ECHO® Program:

1. Conceptualization: An ECHO program covers a subject requiring guided practice and ongoing mentoring, particularly in areas where limited training or continuous education options are available.
2. Preparing and submitting a proposal: Review the "ECHO Programs" currently in progress. If none of the ECHO Programs correspond with your area of expertise and you would like to share your knowledge, contact us at telementorat.echo.comtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca to propose your topic.
3. Feedback from the Scientific Committee: After submitting your proposal, the Scientific Committee will provide feedback and recommendations to further enhance your ECHO program.
4. Training and development: This four-hour training includes didactic presentations and a mock ECHO session that you will lead.
5. Launch and evaluation: We will support you in promoting and launching your ECHO Program. We will collect satisfaction and outcomes data after each session and provide you with a summary of the results.

Eating Disorders

Since 2022, the ECHO-TA sessions bring together experts in eating disorders from various programs across Québec, as well as an expert through experience. The aim is to share knowledge on best clinical practices in the field of eating disorders.

Click here to visit the ECHO program on eating disorders.

Duration: September 17, 2024 to May 20, 2025

Cooccuring disorders in adults (CHUM)

Duration: September 17, 2024 to May 20, 2025
Click here to visit the page.

Cooccuring disorders in youth (CHUM)

Duration: September 18, 2024 to May 21, 2025
Click here to visit the page.

Neurodevelopmental mental health – Introduction (CHU Sainte-Justine)

This program is aimed primarily at practitioners working outside Quebec's major urban centers, who work with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and who have never participated in an ECHO program.

Duration : September 5 to November 28, 2024
Click here to visit the page of the ECHO program on Neurdevelopmental mental health – Introduction

Neurodevelopmental mental health – Continuous education (CHU Sainte-Justine)

This program is aimed soley at people who have already participated in ECHO programs who want to enrich their experience in the field of Neurodevelopmental mental health and participate at their convenience. 

This program is aimed primarily at practitioners working outside Quebec's major urban centers, who work with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and who have never participated in an ECHO program. 

Duration : September 18, 2024 to June 4, 2025 
Click here to visit the page of the ECHO program on Neurdevelopmental mental – Continuous education (in French)

Early childhood mental health (CHU Sainte-Justine)

This program is aimed primarily at professionals working with children outside Quebec's major urban centers.

Duration : September 19 to December 12, 2024
Click here to visit the page for the ECHO program on Early childhood mental health

Personality disorders- COPE-ECHO (IUSMQ)

The COmmunauté de pratique en troubles de la PErsonnalité ECHO (COPE-ECHO) aims to develop skills and knowledge related to personality disorders. This telementoring program is aimed at clinicians in the health and social services sector who wish to acquire the tools they need to intervene more effectively with people presenting personality traits that lead to disturbed functioning. COPE-ECHO topics are selected to meet the needs of clinical teams.

Click here to visit the ECHO telementoring page on personality disorders.

Duration : September 16, 2024 to December 13, 2024

Additional ECHO programs beyond the scope of mental health, substance use, and homelessness:

ECHO-Autism: Diagnosis in ASD 

Click here to visit the page.

ECHO-Autism: WHO Caregiver Skills Training

Click here to visit the page.

Autism : Evaluation and diagnostic issues ages 0 to 7 years.

Click here to visit the page.

Gender diversity in children and adolescents

Click here to visit the page. 

Tourette syndrome

Click here to visit the page.