Andrew Damon Baxter

Biography

Biography

Andrew Baxter is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary and the Provincial Project Lead for the Alberta Mental Health Literacy Project, housed within Recovery Alberta (formerly Alberta Health Services). A registered social worker with over two decades of experience in child and youth mental health, he has worked extensively at the intersection of clinical care, community development, and education. His work focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health literacy (MHL) interventions in school and community settings.

Mr. Baxter has led the provincial rollout of evidence-informed MHL initiatives targeting youth, educators, and parents since 2013. He is a co-author of the widely used Elementary Mental Health Literacy Resource and the Parent Mental Health Literacy Sessions, both of which are recognized across educational and health systems for their accessibility and impact. He has also helped implement the Go-To Educator training model across Canada and in international contexts, contributing to global advancements in early identification and referral for youth mental health needs.

As a master trainer and educator, Mr. Baxter has delivered MHL training across Canada and internationally, and has presented invited addresses on school mental health at major conferences in Europe, the Caribbean, and North America. His clinical background includes a decade of direct service delivery in school-based mental health settings, where he supported youth aged 5–18 and provided consultation to teachers and school administrators.

Mr. Baxter holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Calgary and is the recipient of the Alberta College of Social Workers' Excellence in Practice Award (2021). He has authored both peer-reviewed and public-facing publications and contributed to national policy education, including a mental health handbook for Canadian parliamentarians.