How can we improve mental health at the population level?

Kelly Anderson, PhD, Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Public Mental Health Research, is using population data to better understand the distribution of mental disorders and patterns of service use.




Mental disorders are responsible for a large amount of disability, suffering, lost productivity and health care costs in Canada. High-quality data is needed to improve service delivery, but Canada-specific data is often lacking.

Kelly Anderson, PhD, is studying public mental health using databases from the Canadian health care system to identify groups of the population who are at higher risk of mental disorders, as well as groups who may be facing barriers or disparities in their care. Her research aims to improve mental health services and increase access to care for Canadians with serious mental illness.

Anderson is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Psychiatry at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and an adjunct scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.

Daring to Ask is a series that profiles Canada Research Chairs and Endowed Research Chairs at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. These researchers are advancing knowledge in their respective fields, asking and answering questions that challenge the status quo and seeking to improve patient care. It is essential research made possible by generous donors and the investment of funding agencies.