The researchers working on the “Services, policy and population health” theme come from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds: psychiatry, epidemiology, law, anthropology, economy, psychology, social work, administration.
Their goal is to inspire and influence developments in mental health policy so that people living with a mental illness can obtain the care and services to which they are entitled.
To accomplish this, the researchers study the organization of mental health services, as well as the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to mental and substance use disorders. They also sit on decision-making committees, alongside healthcare professionals and decision-makers, to assist in formulating concrete policies that integrate new scientific knowledge.
ANNE CROCKER, PHD (DIRECTOR)
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 3361
E-mail: anne.crocker [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Forensic psychiatry, violence, criminality, severe mental illness, mental retardation, mental health-law and policy, criminal responsibility, fitness to stand trial, mental health services
Anne Crocker’s work focuses on the interface between mental health and the law. Her research program focuses on two main areas of forensic mental health:
- The identification of psychosocial factors associated with violence and criminality among vulnerable populations, such as individuals with a severe mental illness and individuals with an intellectual disability.
- The interface between the criminal justice and mental health systems (e.g. fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility and mental health services research).
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/anne-crocker
JEAN CARON, PHD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 3445
E-mail:jean.caron [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Social psychiatric epidemiology, suicide epidemiology, program evaluation, psychometrics
Jean Caron, PhD, has been investigating the epidemiology of suicide, as well as that of mental disorders, for many years. His research relates mainly to the epidemiology of mental illnesses and suicide, the evaluation of mental health services, and the validation of psychometric instruments. His recent epidemiological work made it possible to clarify the relationship between social support and quality of life in schizophrenics, the economic disadvantaged population, and the general population.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/jean-caron
MARIE-JOSÉE FLEURY, PHD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 4344
E-mail:mariejosee.fleury [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Organizational studies, health policy analysis, mental health system analysis
Marie-Josée Fleury is directing several research projects on the integration of health services networks in Quebec. Her fields of expertise are mainly concerned with issues of healthcare system organizations and evaluation of mental health services. More broadly, her lines of research are related to health systems analysis, policy research, studies on inter-organizational exchange, continuity of care and implementation of change, as well as vocational rehabilitation programs and other community integrative strategies.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/marie-josee-fleury
GASTON P. HARNOIS, MD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 2734
E-mail:ccoms-mtl-whocc [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Psychosocial rehabilitation, mental health policy formulation, mental health services planning, development and evaluation
Gaston P. Harnois, MD, has wide-ranging expertise in psychosocial rehabilitation, technical cooperation, mental health policy formulation, mental health services planning, development and evaluation, and legislative reform, both nationally and internationally. Over the years, he has contributed extensively to World Health Organization initiatives. He is a former president of the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and former secretary for the World Federation for Mental Health.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/gaston-harnois
ERIC LATIMER, PHD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 2351
E-mail: eric.latimer [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Economic analysis of mental health programs, Assertive Community Treatment, economic issues related to supported employment for people with severe mental illness
The resources in place to help people with mental illness – hospital psychiatry departments, CSSSs, and various other community organizations – plus the links between them, add up to an incredibly complex and costly system. Identifying the most cost-effective changes to pursue requires careful data collection and analysis. Since his arrival at the Douglas Institute Research Centre in 1996, Eric Latimer, PhD, a health economist, has been looking for ways to improve the services our society provides to people with some of the most severe forms of mental illness, while staying within local and provincial budget constraints.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/eric-latimer
DUNCAN PEDERSEN, MD, MPH
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 4347
E-mail: duncan.pedersen [at] mcgill.ca
Research: Social inequalities and health, refugee health, war trauma, political violence and mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social medicine, social and transcultural psychiatry
Duncan Pedersen, MD, MPH, studies how societies impact the mental health of their citizens. His work focuses on Latin America, where large numbers of urban poor, ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples are exposed to social discrimination and political upheavals, poor environmental conditions, poverty, and income inequality. This results in substandard health conditions and a high prevalence of mental and social disorders.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/duncan-pedersen
MICHEL PERREAULT, PHD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 2823
E-mail: michel.perreault [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Program evaluation with both mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 30 million office visits per year to physicians in North America are for psychiatric disorders. Some of these patients require out-patient services, or short- or long-term care at a psychiatric hospital or a psychiatric department of a general hospital. In the past, mental health services have been evaluated from the perspective of the caregiver. Today, there is growing interest in the patient's perspective of, and satisfaction with, these services. Michel Perreault, PhD, has been working with the Psychosocial Research Division of the Douglas Institute since 1995, conducting research to evaluate, with a view to improving, services and treatments in psychiatry.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/michel-perreault
MYRA PIAT, PHD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 2521
E-mail: myra.piat [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: Mental health, housing, rehabilitation/recovery, evaluation of services, non professional caregivers, consumers, peer support, employment.
As well as having earned a doctorate in social work from the Université Laval in 1997, Myra Piat has over 20 years of experience in social services in the public and community sectors, both as a practitioner and as an administrator. Her research focuses on two major areas: housing for persons with serious mental illness and recovery from serious mental illness
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/myra-piat
NORBERT SCHMITZ, PHD
Tel: 514 761-6131 ext.: 3379
E-mail: norbert.schmitz [at] douglas.mcgill.ca
Research: epidemiology, biostatistics, psychometrics
Norbert Schmitz, PhD, has many years of experience in psychiatric research, including psychiatric epidemiology and clinical trials. He has also been a reviewer for several scientific journals. Recent work has focused on the interaction of risk factors, with an emphasis on studies of mental disorders. This includes developing and applying new methodology for the design and analysis of psychiatric studies, as well as participating in major research projects.
More Info: http://www.douglas.qc.ca/researcher/norbert-schmitz