https://www.yorku.ca/ouchlab/divert-mental-health/
What we are
The Digital, Inclusive, Virtual, and Equitable Research Training in Mental Health Platform (DIVERT Mental Health Platform) is a 6-year transdisciplinary health research training program funded by over $2.5M from the Canadian Institutes for Health (CIHR), an additional $2.4M in-kind IBM Canada for computing infrastructure, and over $500K in-kind support from non-governmental organization partners. The program was formally announced in March 2022.
What we plan to accomplish
The platform will build national capacity that is simply not possible in any academic program in Canada due to the lack of diversity in the professoriate and the lack of diverse knowledges being taught. The ultimate goal of DIVERT Mental Health is to synergize expertise across Canada to create a more diverse pool of mental health practitioners, create more digital and virtual mental health interventions that are grounded in inclusive and equitable knowledges and ultimately lead to a mental health system that better serves all of Canada. DIVERT Mental Health is built on the pillars of inclusivity and accessibility. DIVERT Mental Health aims to go beyond cultural safety to embedding cultural affirmation within the mental health system by starting at the beginning of the pipeline- academic training programs that involve mental health.
Who we are
This project brings together the leadership of nine principal investigators across Canada, Rebecca Pillai Riddell (Nominated PI, York University), Patrick McGrath (Psychology, Dalhousie University), Quynh Doan (Pediatric Emergency Medicine, BC Children’s Hospital & University of British Columbia), Allison Crawford (Psychiatry, CAMH & University of Toronto), Ruth Green (Social Work, York University), Annette Majnemer (Occupational Therapy, McGill University), Amanda Newton (Pediatrics, University of Alberta), Rita Orji (Computer Science, Dalhousie) and Lori Wozney (Mental Health and Addictions, Nova Scotia Health Authority). In addition, five non-for-profit organizations, Indigenous Friends, Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions, 360º Kids, Strongest Families Institute, and Strong Minds Strong Kids Canada are also serving as core leaders, alongside an additional 24 co-Investigators from across other Canadian and non-Canadian universities.