Media Releases and Opportunities

The new Sun Life Chair in Youth Mental Health at Dalhousie University will spend the next five years working with clinicians and youth with lived experience to discover what mental health programs and supports best meet their needs.

Dr. Lori Wozney, who stepped into her new role in October 2024, will also translate her research findings for clinicians, communities and policymakers to improve services -- and outcomes -- for growing numbers of youth who are feeling distressed, overwhelmed and trying to access care.

Across Canada, for example, 4.75 million youth contacted the Kids Help Line seeking assistance in 2023 -- a dramatic increase from the 1.9 million youth who reached out in 2019, before the pandemic.

In 2001, the Reaching Out Committee established the chair to advance research pertaining to youth mental health and mental illness, and to improve outcomes. Sun Life Canada, which has been investing in youth mental health programs for at-risk and marginalized communities for decades, became the lead partner.

Dr. Wozney is available to discuss the initiative and how her team's research will inform Nova Scotia's plans to set up eight integrated hubs where youth can receive everything from mental health and addictions services to employment, training and housing supports, all in one place.

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Media contact:

Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Dalhousie University
Cell: 1-902-220-0491
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca