Inaugural Mental Health Partners Research Retreat brings together hospital, community and government to drive impact
The inaugural Mental Health Partners (MHP) Research Retreat took place on Friday, May 31, 2024 in person at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Under the leadership of Dr. Bernard Le Foll, vice president, research and academics/chief scientific officer at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and chair, Mental Health Partners Research Committee, the day brought together nine of the specialty psychiatric hospitals, government and community partners at CAMH to identify research priorities across the MHP organizations to drive collective impact. Close to 50 participants attended, with some meeting in person for the first time. Dr. Aristotle Voineskos, vice president, research at CAMH and host started the day with a Land Acknowledgment.
The MHP Research Committee was established to support and advance research, innovation and care across and between MHP organizations and position MHP’s collective research capacity to support the Government of Ontario, Ontario Health (OH) and the OH Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence in building a comprehensive mental health and substance use system of care for people across the province.
The Research Committee aims to collaborate, share resources, expertise and information amongst the MHP sites and with other partners across the system to advance mental health and addictions research.
The day’s discussions generated unique insights into where MHP should focus its collective efforts for each priority area.
Content experts presented on each topic area – highlighting current and emerging opportunities before robust group discussions. Dr. Randi McCabe, interim vice president, mental health and addictions and Dr. Maiko Schneider, head of service, at St. Joe's shared their expertise on suicide prevention/reduction.
Other expert presenters included:
- Dr. Phil Klassen, vice president, medical affairs and research, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Restraint/seclusion)
- Dr. Bernard Le Foll, vice president, research and academics/chief scientific officer at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (Harm reduction)
- Dr. David Rudoler, research chair, population health and innovation in mental health, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Housing/homelessness)
- Dr. Christopher Canning, director, research and academics, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, (Patient-centred research in forensic settings)
The discussions produced a rich base of ideas and options for potential collaboration. All this input will be collated and used to inform a plan moving forward.
St. Joe’s is proud to be a member of the Mental Health Partners collective. Together, we are providing leadership in building a system that is integrated, evidence based and accountable. We do this by mobilizing our collective strengths in innovation, infrastructure, clinical interventions, research and education so Ontarians with the most complex mental health and substance use conditions can have better outcomes.
The MHP Research Committee looks forward to keeping you updated on our progress as we turn insights into impact!
About MHP
Mental Health Partners are a collective of the province’s specialized hospital providers of mental health and substance use care. Together, we are providing leadership in building a system that is integrated, evidence based and accountable. We do this by mobilizing our collective strengths in innovation, infrastructure, clinical interventions, research and education so Ontarians with the most complex mental health and substance use conditions can have better outcomes.
MHP include nine psychiatric hospital providers across Ontario: