Projects

Mental Health Engagement Network

This project launched in September 2011 and completed in November 2013. This study is about issues related to providing customizable health care tools to individuals with depression/mood disorder or schizophrenia. Specifically, we focussed on determining the usefulness of developing personal health records accessible on handheld devices (smart phones) for various aspects of consumers’ lives. Approximately 400 individuals with mental illness participated in this study. A process was been developed to provide phone assistance to the research participants 24/7, to assist with health or technology issues. The use of technology has great potential to deliver care more effectively and efficiently.

Early research had shown that the MHEN tools provide greater efficiencies for the care providers and support those amongst the community are who managing a serious mental illness. Because MHEN was being recognized as a game changer on how mental health care is delivered within the community, a MHEN Future Development Committee was put in place to develop a sustainable business plan for the broader adoption of MHEN technologies into mental health care, within Canada and beyond. The committee collectively fostered a business approach for MHEN, so this robust mental health care platform could be promoted and adopted beyond the feasibility stage. If you are interested in supporting MHEN beyond the research stage, please contact us.

Youth – Mental Health Engagement Network Project

The first phase of this project launched in July 2013 and completed in January 2014. This project is about using an electronic standardized assessment tool and personal health record to provide care to youth (16-25 years old) who are experiencing depressive symptoms. This project leveraged the Lawson SMART record (i.e. electronic personal health record) which was developed through the original Mental Health Engagement Network (MHEN) project. Specifically, we examined the usefulness of an electronic version of the 6-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale within the Lawson SMART record, accessible on mobile handheld devices. Up to 65 youth and 15 care participated in this study.