Each year, the Homewood Research Institute dedicates itself to advancing research initiatives that directly contribute to improved treatment for diverse individuals. As showcased in the 2024-2025 Homewood Research Institute Annual Report, the Homewood Research Institute’s team of mental health experts elevated their mission this past year through impactful program developments. The Homewood Research Institute continues to have a profound impact on the overall landscape of mental health research and treatment in Canada by developing actionable insights in a multitude of specialized areas of mental health, including:
- Women’s mental health and depression
- CanEMERG: Disaster and emergency preparation and recovery management
- Concurrent mental health and substance use health care
Of particular interest amongst these initiatives is one that is first of its kind in Canada: a study called EASY-CARE. This study, spearheaded by Dr. Benicio Frey, the Homewood Research Chair in Women’s Mental Health and Depression, explores how hormonal sensitivity may impact the mental health of women and gender diverse people with trauma, especially those at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In addition to this ground-breaking initiative, the Homewood Research Institute delivered 72 presentations to academic, clinical, and public audiences as well as 83 peer-reviewed articles from an expert network of 58 researchers, clinicians, and scientists. Also, HRI Talks, a free YouTube series, has garnered the attention of thousands of interested viewers, 97% of whom noted learning useful or valuable knowledge from this educational series.
Especially noteworthy is the talk on women’s health, which featured four expert panelists who discussed the rapidly evolving landscape of women’s mental health research. Throughout this thought-provoking summit, five key themes were discussed, including:
- The central importance of lived-experience in shaping women’s mental-health research
- Gender-specific stressors and mental-health challenges unique to women
- Gaps and under-representation in existing research on women’s mental health
- The importance of research design that centres intersectionality and diversity among women
- Implications for women in the workplace and to provide them with social support and the ability to return to work
Together, these themes articulated a necessary conversation about how mental health professionals, researchers, and leaders need to acknowledge and address the unique needs of diverse women in and out of the workplace.
Also, the Homewood Research Institute held its second annual Spring Social and Fever Pitch Competition to inspire innovative research in the mental health space. This competition awarded three budding researchers up to $10,000 in funding to further their research projects in the following areas:
- Moral Injury and Turnover Intention Among Healthcare Workers: Exploring the Impacts of Professional Identity and Perceived Organizational Support
- Examining the Impact of Concurrent Mental Health Symptoms on Craving in Women Undergoing Residential Addictions Treatment
- Blue Light Therapy for Women with Post-Partum Depression and Anxiety – A Proof of Concept Trial
As the Homewood Research Institute invests in present and future innovative researchers, mental health research in Canada can be given the attention and resources it needs to enact positive change and achieve significant developments in otherwise unexplored areas of mental health impacting countless individuals in our country and abroad.
These exceptional and unique contributions to the mental health industry have positioned the Homewood Research Institute as a leader in sharing knowledge, furthering research, and advancing treatment options for a variety of mental health topics. In partnership with the expert clinicians, subject matter experts and leaders of mental health, trauma and substance use at Homewood Health and the Homewood Health Centre, the Homewood Research Institute puts research into action immediately and coordinates our efforts to advance a common goal: improving treatment to save lives.
If you’d like to learn more about the Homewood Research Institute’s newest mental health initiatives, read the full 2024-2025 annual report by visiting the Homewood Research Institute website.