Skip to content

Make a donation to St. Michael's Hospital Foundation
| Share

Research Programs - Mental Health

Centre for Research on Inner City Health - Keenan Research Centre

Many aspects of “inner city” life are associated with mental health and substance use issues. A growing body of research shows that urban infrastructure can affect mental health outcomes. Severe poverty, barriers to accessing health care, a lack of adequate and affordable housing, and social marginalization and exclusion are also linked to poor mental health.

CRICH studies look at the facilitators and barriers to services that commonly affect people with severe mental health and substance use issues, and assess their specific care needs. Our research on neighbourhoods and mental health looks at the links between neighbourhoods and outcomes like chronic stress, depression, and child behavioural problems. We also evaluate solutions – population health interventions such as mental health services, city planning, and supportive housing. Through the Arthur Sommer Rotenberg Chair in Suicide Studies, we conduct research to better understand who is at risk of suicide, and why.

What We Know

We’ve put together some resources to help you get to know the issues.

CRICH Primers:

 

What We’re Working On

“At Home”/“Chez Soi” Mental Health & Homelessness Demonstration Project
We are taking part in a four-year, five-city trial to look at the Housing First model of intervention. Across Canada, over 1,000 homeless people with serious mental health issues will be given an apartment of their own, and offered specialized supports. Our goal is to identify best practices that could be applied on a national scale. Find out more

Neighbourhoods Effects on Health and Well-being (NEHW)

For this study, our Survey Research Unit is interviewing 3000 adults across 100 random Toronto neighbourhoods to better understand how neighbourhoods affect mental health in Canadian urban settings. This large, methodologically innovative project will combine survey data with structured observation to describe neighbourhood effects that promote, or diminish, mental health. Our goal is to produce evidence that can inform existing and future neighbourhood-level interventions. Learn more

Effects of the Regent Park Social Housing Redevelopment on Adult Mental Health and Child Development 

Canada’s largest and oldest publicly funded community, Toronto’s Regent Park, is being demolished and redeveloped to include new community, recreational, and cultural services. CRICH is looking at how the neighbourhood’s revitalization is impacting residents’ mental health. This study has the potential to substantially enhance our understanding of how social and physical environments shape health - more specifically, the mental health of low-income adults and their children. The first of its kind in Canada and one of the first in the world, this study will provide an important evidence base for social housing redevelopments and urban planning across Canada. Learn more

The Use of HIV-related Health Services by Injection Drug Users in Toronto

Many studies in the United States have indicated that injection drug users have significantly decreased access to HIV services. The situation may be different in Ontario, but no comprehensive assessment has been performed before now. This study examines barriers to HIV-related interventions and health services for people who use injection drugs in Toronto. This kind of assessment is crucial to the development of rational planning and policies. Learn more

Toronto and Ottawa Supervised Consumption Assessment (TOSCA)

A supervised consumption site is a legally-sanctioned facility in which people can take drugs in a supervised, hygienic environment. This ongoing CRICH study will examine the potential impact of such a site on the health of drug users and on communities, including residents, business owners, and health care providers. By examining the cost relative to the potential health outcomes, we will also analyze the potential cost-effectiveness of one or more sites. Analyses will focus on both Toronto and Ottawa. Toronto Star article