Prevalence and Applications of interRAI Scales and Algorithms for Children and Youth Across Populations and Care Settings

Rising mental health needs among children and youth underscore the importance of reliable, evidence-informed data to support effective service planning and policy development. The interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health (ChYMH) and Child and Youth Mental Health-Developmental Disabilities (ChYMH-DD) assessments provide standardized information across clinical, functional, and social aspects to support care planning and service delivery. This study highlights common scales and algorithms embedded within the ChYMH and ChYMH-DD and illustrates their prevalence across instruments and settings. Prevalence rates for thirteen scales and algorithms are presented. Higher prevalence of functional dependence was observed among children with developmental disabilities; while higher proportions of mental health concerns were recognized among children without developmental disabilities. Patterns across measures demonstrate overlap in mental health and functioning across settings. Overall, this article highlights the clinical utility of embedded interRAI scales and algorithms in capturing meaningful clinical information and supporting evidence-informed care and policy.