Our lab has numerous studies on the go related to the areas of suicide prevention, under-represented populations, and the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

The BEACON Study
In Ontario there at least 8,000 visits each year to the emergency department for an episode of self-harm. These patients are at a higher risk of dying by suicide in the following year. Research also shows that men are particularly vulnerably to this, making up about 75% of all suicide deaths in Ontario. To address this, we are conducting a pilot study of a two-part intervention to provide treatment to men who present to emergency departments across Ontario for an episode of self-harm. This pairs an evidence-based treatment for self-harm (problem-solving therapy) with the convenience and mobility of a smartphone app. This pilot study will explore the feasibility of conducting a larger clinical trial of this intervention. For more information about this study, please visit: https://www.hatchingideaslab.com/research-areas/suicide-prevention/beacon.

NET MOST: Developing a Trauma-Informed Intervention for PTSD for Vulnerably Housed Populations
Individuals who are precariously housed or currently experiencing homelessness have complex needs that traditional mental health care is poorly equipped to serve. There is a clear gap in the delivery of services that address the experience of trauma in vulnerably housed individuals. To address this, we are using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to develop a trauma-informed care intervention specific to vulnerably housed patients. This includes both a systematic review to assess the state of the evidence on interventions to treat PTSD among vulnerably housed populations, as well as a public consultation focused on how to best deliver trauma-informed care to this under-represented and high-need population. To learn more about this project, please visit: https://www.hatchingideaslab.com/research-areas/vulnerably-housed-populations/netmost

The Eastern Ontario COVID-19 Community Mental Health Cohort (ECCOM) Study
In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. In response, much of the world drastically altered daily activities, limiting travel, shuttering businesses and encouraging people to shelter in place. There has been growing concern about the potential mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the impact of COVID-19 on mental illness, we are conducting a cohort study in Eastern Ontario of people who have tested positive (cases) and negative (controls) for COVID-19. This will allow estimates of how much mental health burden is due to COVID-19 infection compared to that due to the socioeconomic changes associated with the pandemic. Using the results of this study we will also be able to inform changes to services and policy around COVID-19 protocols. To read more about this study, please visit: https://www.hatchingideaslab.com/research-areas/covid19/eccom.

Enhancing COVID Rehabilitation with Technology (ECORT) Study
Since March 2020, Ontario was confirmed more than 547,000 cases of COVID-19. For the majority of people, symptoms resolve within 4 weeks; however, a significant amount of people experience “long COVID” or post-COVID syndrome. For these people, symptoms of COVID-19 persist long after they have been infected (usually defined as 12 weeks or more). A key research question to be addressed in this study is how to best provide care to patients suffering with Long COVID. Specifically, we will be evaluating whether an electronic case management system improves outcomes in those with Long COVID. For more information about this study, please visit: https://www.hatchingideaslab.com/research-areas/covid19/ecort.