AMH Initiative: Decoding the effects of early life adversity on mental health

While it is commonly understood that a difficult childhood can lead to mental health issues, research has now exposed deeper, more troubling impacts of early life adversity: that these experiences can reshape the brain and body at a cellular level. Physiological effects like these are at the core of the McGill-Douglas-Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry International Collaborative Initiative in Adversity and Mental Health (AMH Initiative). This five-year, $5M project, made possible in part through funding by Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives, seeks to uncover the biological roots of mental illness, the leading cause of disability worldwide. The international team is now working to expand research in the area, support the next generation of researchers and, ultimately, enhance prevention and treatment for the public.

This exciting collaboration lays the foundation for potential long-term impacts on clinical practices and treatment for mental health through basic research, pilot projects, exchange programs and collaborative efforts. To learn more about the AMH Initiative, check out the latest article in the McGill Reporter.