BC Mental Health & Addictions Research Institute (BCMHARI)

Creating knowledge...Changing minds

The BC Mental Health & Addictions Research Institute (BCMHARI) is dedicated to conducting basic, clinical, and applied research to improve the understanding and treatment of mental illness and substance use problems.

Recent News

March 13, 2012

Dr. Tonia Nicholls Co-Investigator on National CIHR Operating Grant

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), through its September 15, 2011 open operating grants competition, has awarded Dr. Anne Crocker (Douglas Hospital Research Centre) a four-year operating grant to conduct a prospective, longitudinal study of forensic psychiatric patients. BCMHAS Researcher, Dr. Tonia Nicholls (Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission), is Co-Investigator and BC Lead for this national project entitled “Going Home: Recovery and Community Reintegration of Mentally Ill Men and Women Discharged from Hospital”.

In Canada and globally, the closure of psychiatric facilities, and changes to mental health and criminal laws, have led to new challenges in caring for people with mental illness. The criminal justice system has increasingly become the gateway to mental health care and more people now cycle between these two systems. This "revolving door" phenomenon comes at a high cost to the mentally ill and to society at large. Dr. Nicholl’s project will examine what happens to the severely mentally ill who are judged not criminally responsible on account of their mental disorder (NCRMD) as they leave hospitals and try to reintegrate into the community. The study will improve the chances of success for these marginalized people and provide valuable insights into coordination across the health, social services, and criminal justice systems, with the prospect of significant cost reductions.

March 2, 2012

BCMHARI Graduate Students Win MITACS Accelerate Awards

Congratulations to the following trainees who have received MITACS Accelerate Graduate Research Internships which will support their research activities at BCMHARI. The internships are co-funded by the federal and provincial governments and BCMHARI, and are valued at $15,000 for a four-month project.

Heidi Boyda, PhD Candidate, Pharmacology, UBC
Supervisors: Drs. Alasdair Barr and Ric Procyshyn

Kristina Gicas, MA Candidate, Psychology, SFU
Supervisors: Dr. Allen Thornton and Mr. Wayne Su

Cassie MacRae, MSc Candidate, Neuroscience, UBC
Supervisors: Drs. Donna Lang and William Panenka

Emily Morris, MSc Candidate, Genetic Counselling, UBC
Supervisors: Drs. Jan Friedman and Jehannine Austin

Victor Tang, MSc Candidate, Neuroscience, UBC
Supervisors: Drs. Jun-Feng Wang and Clare Beasley

Katie Wadden, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Sciences, UBC
Supervisors: Drs. Lara Boyd and Todd Woodward

February 7, 2012

Dr. Jehannine Austin Receives $100,000 CIHR Operating Grant

The CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes has awarded Dr. Jehannine Austin a one-year operating grant for the project entitled “A prospective study of the role of genes and folates in postpartum psychopathology in women at increased risk”.

Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum psychosis (PPP) are urgent health concerns that have important implications for mothers, infants and their families. Compared to the general population, women who have a history of a mood or psychotic disorder (i.e., major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) have elevated risks for PPD/PPP. Understanding PPD/PPP in at-risk women is critical to improving outcomes.