What we do

At Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC), we do research differently. We prioritize stakeholder engagement and build bridges between research and practice. We do this by ensuring all our funded research projects are lead by co-principal investigators, one in academia and one representing a stakeholder group directly engaged with those who will use the research. In this way, all projects engage people with lived experience throughout the entire research process.

MHRC strives to advance mental health in Canada through collaboration. We co-fund studentships to support early career researchers, we support innovative research, and we lead population studies on the mental health of Canadians and workplace mental health. We engage in rapid data-analysis to produce reports within weeks to support data-informed decision-making in Canada. We also manage calls for research on behalf of other organizations which includes: refining the research question, promotion of the call, assessment, awarding and grant management. Based on the needs of our stakeholders, we also produce commissioned literature/scoping reviews, data analysis and reports. (Interested in working with us on managing a grant or commissioning a data report? Send us an email!)

Throughout our work, we put forward the following strategic approach to advancing mental health in Canada:

LEAD

  • We are a national leader in the engagement of stakeholders in the research process

  • We operate as a valued connector, brokering relationships to facilitate collaboration and sector capacity-building

  • We are a bridge builder between academia and community via our co-principal investigator model

  • We assemble partners to build and co-fund the mental health research pipeline via studentships and fellowships

  • We track the mental health of Canadians

SEED

  • We are a seed funder of mental health research that is important to stakeholders, and that could qualify for additional funding from others with greater resources

  • We are a seed funder of innovative, community-based research that addresses gaps

  • We seed and assemble partnerships as a trusted broker

INFLUENCE

  • We are a trusted and reliable source of useful mental health knowledge

  • We advocate for authentic engagement of stakeholders in the research process

  • We encourage and advocate for collaboration and partnerships across the sector 

  • We advocate for evidence-based decision-making to advance mental health in Canada

  • We advocate for improved practice and services via the sharing and application of knowledge deemed useful by stakeholders

MHRC is committed to advancing research that will better the lives of Canadians. To see MHRC’s work in action, read on about our national polling work, our funded research projects, and other ongoing initiatives including our grants, studentships, national tracking of the mental health of Canadians and workplace mental health.

Your support helps us improve the lives of Canadians by advancing mental health knowledge! Consider donating to MHRC today.

Our Research Process

Our Research Process