TORONTO, July 18, 2008 -- How do young people get information about mental health problems and treatment options when they or their friends are in crisis? Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health problems in Canada, and frequently develop during adolescence and early adulthood. Yet young adults who suffer from these problems face complex decisions about mental health care and often lack the information they need to pursue the right treatment.

Researchers at York University, the University of Manitoba, McMaster University, and Brock University received $1.5 million today from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Mental Health Commission to research how young adults who suffer from mental health problems, and those who support them, make decisions about their mental health. The project also promises to develop methods to help the mental health care sector better-address the needs of Canadian youth by transferring knowledge to them in optimal, timely formats.

Through a partnership with the Centre of Excellence in Youth Engagement, researchers will work with young adults and community groups to determine:

o        what information young adults want about mental health

o        where they are most likely to find it

o        how they would like to receive it

o        whom they might contact for information

o        when it’s best to receive information

o        what kind of barriers prevent them from getting the information they need in an optimal format

After creating and evaluating the impact of materials better-suited to the needs of young adults in real-world settings, the researchers will work with partner organizations to transfer their findings and launch public information campaigns that will help Canadian youth to make more informed decisions about their mental health.

“The right treatment, based on sound evidence, can have a critical impact on a young adult’s health – especially when begun early,” said John Walker, professor of clinical health psychology at the University of Manitoba and the project’s lead investigator. “How we get the right information to the right people in the right format at the right time to help them make informed decisions about their mental health clearly has enormous implications.”

The funding is part of a total $4.4 million earmarked by CIHR to support a total of three projects that will improve the application of mental health research. The Honourable Steven Fletcher, MP for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia and Parliamentary Secretary for Health, made the announcement today at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on behalf of Tony Clement, Minister of Health. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is also contributing $250,000 to the project.

“Thousands of Canadians and their families deal with the negative effects of mental health problems,” said Fletcher. “The Government is committed to funding research that will help ensure that these Canadians have access to the best mental healthcare services possible.”

At York University, the project is one of the first initiatives of the Psychology Research and Training Clinic (PRTC), which provides research and training in psychological interventions for health and mental health. This innovative clinic will work to generate ongoing empirical research that promises to allow for collaborations among hospitals, community agencies and school boards while attracting outstanding applicants to York’s psychology graduate program and producing highly-qualified health care professionals.

“The PRTC’s outreach component will ensure that evidence-based interventions are provided in a user-friendly way, which is a particularly important aspect when dealing with the adolescent population,” said Michael Siu, associate vice-president research, science & technology. “This grant is a testament to the increasing strength of York’s exceptional health, life sciences, and social innovation research, which contribute to Canada’s knowledge base and enhance our quality of life.”

The research team includes:

Dr. John Walker, University of Manitoba

Dr. Patricia Furer, University of Manitoba

Dr. Jitender Sareen, University of Manitoba

Dr. Henny Westra, York University

Dr. Lynne Angus, York University

Dr. John Eastwood, York University

Ms. Madalyn Marcus, York University

Dr. David Phipps, York University

Dr. Charles Cunningham, McMaster University

Ms. Kimberley Ryan-Nicholls, Brandon University

Dr. Richard Price Swinson, McMaster University

Dr. Linda Rose-Krasor, Brock University

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 24 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation. 

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support over 10,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Monier-Williams, Research Communications, York University, 416-736-2100 x21069/ eamw@yorku.ca

Nora Gubins, Director of Communications & External Relations, Faculty of Health, York University, 416 736 2100 x 21072/ ngubins@yorku.ca