Background
Depression is a common problem affecting young people and their families. While there are medications to treat depression, they do not make everyone feel better, and some people have side effects that limit their use. This can cause it to take longer for the young person and their doctor to find the best medication to treat their depression.

Members of the Pharmacogenetic-Guided Antidepressant Prescribing (PGx-GAP) team in Alberta, Canada are studying the use of a genetic test that may help match young people to the choose the best medication option for them, based on how fast or slow their body processes medications.

During this study, we hope to work alongside youth and young adults (aged 15-24) who have lived experience of depression or mental health challenges. We are not asking you to be part of the study, but instead to work with the researchers to help make the study the best it can be for the children and youth who do take part in it.

To be an Advisor, you should:
-Be between the ages of 15-24 years when you join the advisory panel
-Have lived experience with depression or other mental health challenges. This can mean that you have experienced depression yourself, or that you have supported family members, friends, or peers with depression. Diverse experiences are greatly welcomed, encouraged and valued.
-Live in Canada; we particularly welcome those living in Alberta.

Roles and Responsibilities
Advisors will work together during scheduled meetings share their essential lived experience expertise, insights and ideas to help solve the research study problems.

Some examples of problems that may need addressing and topics of discussion include:
-Study recruitment strategies – ways we ask people to participate in our study and when to best do this.
-How to reduce study drop-out – how we can encourage and support people to stay in our study
-Visual design approaches – how our posters and social media graphics can best share our information
-Dissemination – ways we can best share our study results.

Additional work outside of Committee meetings is not anticipated at this time.
Meetings will be held virtually using Zoom Meetings, where advisors can join online or call by phone.

Time Commitment
Meetings will occur two to three times per year for 1.5 hours each. The dates and times will be chosen based on the results of a virtual poll that advisors complete. Support will be offered to complete the poll if requested. This will ensure that the date and time works for as many advisors as possible.
This study will run for approximately 5 years.

Compensation/Reimbursement
Advisors will be offered an honorarium of $25 per hour paid out annually as a thank you for their expertise and contributions. Details will be provided at the first Advisory Committee Meeting.
This is an online activity. Committee membership is not anticipated to incur any direct costs to the advisors such as travel and parking.