News
Mental illnesses: Examining the risks and causes
2006-05-31
New Douglas study will involve 2,400 citizens from southwest Montreal
Montreal, May 31, 2006 – Sir Francis Bacon said some 500 years ago, “Knowledge is power” and this may be especially true when understanding the complexity of mental illness. The role of factors such as poverty, physical environment and social factors -in the development of mental illnesses- have yet to be clearly defined. Investigators from the Douglas Hospital Research Centre (DHRC) hope to unravel this complexity thanks to a new $2 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The findings from this multi-year study, involving residents from southwest Montreal, will lead to a better understanding of the risks and causes of some mental illnesses.
Douglas researcher and principal investigator, Jean Caron, PhD, and his colleagues from the DHRC, Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal plan to survey approximately 2400 citizens from the Montreal areas including Saint-Henri, Point Saint-Charles, Verdun/Cote Saint-Paul/Ville Émard, LaSalle, and Old Lachine and Dorval. Using standardized questionnaires and qualitative interviews they will explore, stress levels, coping mechanisms, economic and employment status, social support, services received, social stigma and relate these to the mental health status and quality of life of the participants. The four objectives of the study are to:
• Explore relationships and interactions between personal and social determinants, neighborhood ecology and mental health.
• Identify conditions which facilitate integration of individuals with mental illnesses into the community
• Define the impact of social and economic status on mental health
• Assess the quality of mental health services available
“Approximately one out of five Canadians are affected by psychological distress; they manifest symptoms such as anxiety, mood or sleep disorders,” says Caron, an associate professor in the department of Psychiatry at McGill. “Some of these individuals will have adapted well and others will have not. One of our goals is to identify which factors play a role and then use this information to target programs and social support for the prevention of mental illness and the improvement of the mental health including quality of life in the population.
“This is a long-term study,” adds Caron. “We are hopeful this will provide insight into all the contributing factors to mental health status and thereby empower both the practitioner and the patient.”
Montreal, May 31, 2006 – Sir Francis Bacon said some 500 years ago, “Knowledge is power” and this may be especially true when understanding the complexity of mental illness. The role of factors such as poverty, physical environment and social factors -in the development of mental illnesses- have yet to be clearly defined. Investigators from the Douglas Hospital Research Centre (DHRC) hope to unravel this complexity thanks to a new $2 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The findings from this multi-year study, involving residents from southwest Montreal, will lead to a better understanding of the risks and causes of some mental illnesses.
Douglas researcher and principal investigator, Jean Caron, PhD, and his colleagues from the DHRC, Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal plan to survey approximately 2400 citizens from the Montreal areas including Saint-Henri, Point Saint-Charles, Verdun/Cote Saint-Paul/Ville Émard, LaSalle, and Old Lachine and Dorval. Using standardized questionnaires and qualitative interviews they will explore, stress levels, coping mechanisms, economic and employment status, social support, services received, social stigma and relate these to the mental health status and quality of life of the participants. The four objectives of the study are to:
• Explore relationships and interactions between personal and social determinants, neighborhood ecology and mental health.
• Identify conditions which facilitate integration of individuals with mental illnesses into the community
• Define the impact of social and economic status on mental health
• Assess the quality of mental health services available
“Approximately one out of five Canadians are affected by psychological distress; they manifest symptoms such as anxiety, mood or sleep disorders,” says Caron, an associate professor in the department of Psychiatry at McGill. “Some of these individuals will have adapted well and others will have not. One of our goals is to identify which factors play a role and then use this information to target programs and social support for the prevention of mental illness and the improvement of the mental health including quality of life in the population.
“This is a long-term study,” adds Caron. “We are hopeful this will provide insight into all the contributing factors to mental health status and thereby empower both the practitioner and the patient.”
