At CAHSPR 2025, an impressive number of rigorous, timely, and thought-provoking abstracts demonstrated the growing need for Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services across Canada, as well as policies that can effectively prevent MHSU issues and address the supply and demand for MHSU care in the country.
We are excited to re-launch a CAHSPR Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) theme group, which aims to advance MHSU services and policy research in Canada. To achieve this, we are creating a national network of trainees, researchers, decision-makers, health professionals, policy-makers, people with lived and living experience, and others who are passionate about MHSU services and policy research.
We envision that the MHSU theme group will include a broad focus on:
- All age groups and populations
- Spectrum of mental health, including positive mental health, psychological distress, and all types of mental illness, from diverse theoretical frameworks (e.g., Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology, Research Domain Criteria)
- Continuum of substance use health and substance use disorder, recognizing that not all substance use causes harm and appreciating both harm reduction and abstinence-focused services and policies
- Biopsychosocial-spiritual risk and protective factors related to mental health and/or substance use health
- Health promotion, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders (including substance use disorders)
We are committed to co-creating the structure, purpose, and goals of this working group with interested members.
The specific objectives of the MHSU theme group may include:
- Create an active network of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience who have an interest in MHSU
- Organize a special theme panel for the annual conference
- Organize a social meeting at the annual conference
- Coordinate a keynote on MHSU at the conference
- Organize and deliver HSPR Talks session(s) for CAHSPR members
- Work with other organizations/partners to facilitate linkage and exchange between Canadian and international MHSU research and policy communities
- Create opportunities for networking and collaboration
- Support capacity-building and mentorship of early career researchers and trainees in MHSU health systems and policy research
How to Get Involved
Are you interested in learning more about the CAHSPR MSHU Theme group? Fill out this form to stay in the loop.
We will also be hosting a HSPR Talks Webinar in early 2026, where we will engage with the MHSU health services and policy research community to help co-design the purpose and objectives of the Theme Group. Stay tuned for more information!
