-Neil Hammond
Background
Young people aged 16–24 often fall into what’s known as the “missing middle” of mental health care: they are too unwell for community-based services, but not unwell enough for hospital or tertiary care. As a result, many end up in emergency departments, an environment not designed for their needs, and frequently leave without adequate follow-up.
The Missing Middle Provincial Education Program was developed by BC Children’s Hospital to address these systemic gaps. It equips healthcare providers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to better support young people and their families during this critical stage.
Challenge
Mental health systems are often weakest at the very age when most conditions first appear:
Up to 75% of mental illnesses emerge before age 25.
Half of young people disengage from services when they transition to adult care.
In some Canadian jurisdictions, as few as 25% of youth with diagnosable conditions receive the help they need.
The challenge was twofold: design an educational experience that was modern, engaging, and relevant for healthcare providers, while also ensuring the platform was technically reliable and ready for province-wide use.
Our Solution
Learnbase partnered with the brilliant project team including subject matter experts, clinicians, and people with lived experience to design a creative, milestone-driven online module. Using advanced features in Storyline, the course was built around a clear sequence of impactful learning points.
Key elements included:
- Narrative vignettes with consistent characters modeling best and less optimal approaches.
- Highly visual milestone markers that guided learners step by step through the journey.
- A calm, empathetic illustration style combined with human and AI voiceovers to ensure accessibility and resonance.
- Interactive activities and reflection prompts strategically placed to encourage deeper engagement and personal connection.
- This approach balanced evidence-based content with emotional impact, creating a learning experience that felt both practical and respectful of the realities of supporting young people.
Results
The soft launch confirmed the program’s value and readiness for rollout:
- 100% of participants were satisfied with the learning experience.
- 88% found the module highly relevant to their professional work.
- 100% said they would recommend the module to colleagues.
- Participants praised it as “modern and interactive,” “engaging and informative,” and “a thoughtful exploration of how to respectfully support youth.
Feedback also highlighted specific takeaways, including:
- Greater awareness of bias in service delivery.
- Stronger communication strategies to build rapport with young people.
- Deeper understanding of developmental theory and the impact of childhood experiences.
Conclusion
The Missing Middle Provincial Education Program highlights the impact of purposeful learning design. By using a creative advanced authoring and sequencing in Storyline, we were able to guide learners through a series of clear milestones, each reinforced by narrative vignettes, visual cues, and reflection activities. This structure allowed participants to connect theory with practice and to carry forward practical strategies for supporting young people.
The production approach combined a calm and empathetic visual style with both human and AI voice talent, making the module accessible, consistent, and engaging. Every design choice, from the flow of content to the placement of interactive elements, was made to encourage reflection, reduce barriers to learning, and build confidence in applying new knowledge.
The soft launch confirmed that this design approach works. Participants found the module modern, interactive, and memorable. With these insights in place, the program is now positioned for province-wide rollout, showing how well-crafted digital education can expand clinician knowledge and improve care.
