Current Projects
Developing and Evaluating an Outpatient Young Adult Substance Use Program (YA-SUP)
With the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, I led the initial program development and evaluation of a novel outpatient program for emerging adults. The program is both evidence-based and evidence-generating. I also received a project grant from Frayme for a project called, “Measuring and understanding quality of life in a young adult substance use program,” which was was co-designed, co-facilitated, and co-interpreted with young adults with lived expertise.
Developing and Evaluating an Outpatient Young Adult Substance Use Program (YA-SUP)
With the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, I led the initial program development and evaluation of a novel outpatient program for emerging adults. The program is both evidence-based and evidence-generating. I also received a project grant from Frayme for a project called, “Measuring and understanding quality of life in a young adult substance use program,” which was was co-designed, co-facilitated, and co-interpreted with young adults with lived expertise.
Developing and Evaluating Prevention and Early Interventions for Youth Substance Use
I strive to identify and implement effective interventions for youth substance use use. Thus far, I have: (1) helped develop, deliver, and evaluate a brief motivational intervention for post-secondary substance use (called Pause), (2) led a systematic review and meta-analysis on brief interventions for cannabis use among emerging adults; and (3) co-developed a Cannabis Practice Guide for School Mental Health Professionals. My postdoctoral work will expand this work through analyzing data from longitudinal school-based prevention trials for alcohol and cannabis use.
Exploring Historical Trends in Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Concerns
Mental health concerns have been dramatically increasing in the general population in recent years, while substance use has been generally decreasing, plateauing, or only slightly increasing. This program of work seeks to explore how the co-occurrence (or joint-trends) of substance use and mental health concerns have been changing over time. My postdoctoral work will continuing exploring these trends in both Canadian and Australian samples.
Exploring Historical Trends in Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Concerns
Mental health concerns have been dramatically increasing in the general population in recent years, while substance use has been generally decreasing, plateauing, or only slightly increasing. This program of work seeks to explore how the co-occurrence (or joint-trends) of substance use and mental health concerns have been changing over time. My postdoctoral work will continuing exploring these trends in both Canadian and Australian samples.
Identifying Patterns of Adolescent Substance Use in the General Population, and Related Risk and Resiliency Factors
This program seeks to: (1) systematically review existing literature on patterns of multiple substance use among adolescents, (2) identify patterns and school-correlates of substance use and mental health concerns among elementary and secondary students in Ontario, Canada, and (3) examine developmental trajectories of co-occurrence (postdoctoral work).
Exploring Substance Use Among Adolescents Attending Inpatient Mental Health Treatment to Guide Care Pathways
The Cannabis, Alcohol, Mental Health and Patterns (CAMP) of Service Use project seeks to examine the prevalence and correlates of substance use among youth admitted to the hospital for mental health concerns. The pilot study, focused on feasibility and acceptability of standardized assessments, was funded by a Hamilton Health Sciences New Investigator Fund. The CAMP sample is being combined with an outpatient sample to further identify patterns of co-occurring multiple substance use and mental disorder symptoms, and clinical correlates to guide care pathways
Exploring Substance Use Among Adolescents Attending Inpatient Mental Health Treatment to Guide Care Pathways
The Cannabis, Alcohol, Mental Health and Patterns (CAMP) of Service Use project seeks to examine the prevalence and correlates of substance use among youth admitted to the hospital for mental health concerns. The pilot study, focused on feasibility and acceptability of standardized assessments, was funded by a Hamilton Health Sciences New Investigator Fund. The CAMP sample is being combined with an outpatient sample to further identify patterns of co-occurring multiple substance use and mental disorder symptoms, and clinical correlates to guide care pathways
Professor Hippo-on-Campus: Student Mental Health Education Program for Educators and Navigators
Professor Hippo-on-Campus is an online mental health education program for McMaster staff and faculty consisting of modules and workshops covering topics such as: creating mental health-positive learning environments, communicating with stressed and distressed learners, and recognizing and responding to students in distress and difficulty. Modules specific for graduate teaching assistants are currently being evaluated.