Research

Calgary's Mental Health and Addiction Strategy and Action Plan (the strategy) is connected to and looking to further connect with mental health and addiction researchers to inform the implementation of Strategy actions and initiatives.

We are interested in research projects that align with the Strategy and demonstrate practical applications. The goal is for best practices to inform specific actions and initiatives in the Strategy.

Research in Action application

Does your reserach project align with or inform any of the Strategy themes or current research areas of interest below?

Fill out the Research in Action Intake Form
Email the Form to us at communityofconnections@calgary.ca

Overview of the Strategy

The Strategy focuses on what we heard matters most to people in our community: being well, getting help and staying safe in our homes, schools, work and community.

	Being Well – Wellness at home, at school, at work and in the community	Getting Help – What you need, when, where and how you need it	Staying Safe – Security at all times, especially in a crisis
Strategy Actions	Help communities to become places where all people belong and support each other. Share information in schools and in the community to help people understand what mental health and addiction are and how to support themselves and others. Promote approaches to positive mental health in workplaces.	Establish a coordinated network of mental health and addiction services so that people can easily find the help they need when they need it. Transform the system of early access to mental health and addiction services through schools. Transform the system of early access to mental health and addiction services through workplaces. Build capacity of local organizations to meet the mental health and addiction needs in the community through convening around common actions.	Strengthen existing crisis supports. Transform how to respond to people and families in crisis and prevent future crises.
Current research areas of interest (2023)	Mental health literacy: Practices to expand mental health literacy to reach equity-deserving groups beyond a school setting. Working with informal networks and grassroots organizations to increase natural supports and reduce mental health stigma.	Workplace mental health. Early access to mental health and addiction supports through schools. Increasing service coordination and integration between health and social services. Data sharing initiatives.	Harm-reduction initiatives for those in crisis. Further research on transforming crisis response.

Being Well – Wellness at home, at school, at work and in the community

Getting Help – What you need, when, where and how you need it

Staying Safe – Security at all times, especially in a crisis

Strategy Actions

Help communities to become places where all people belong and support each other.
Share information in schools and in the community to help people understand what mental health and addiction are and how to support themselves and others.
Promote approaches to positive mental health in workplaces.

Establish a coordinated network of mental health and addiction services so that people can easily find the help they need when they need it.
Transform the system of early access to mental health and addiction services through schools.
Transform the system of early access to mental health and addiction services through workplaces.
Build capacity of local organizations to meet the mental health and addiction needs in the community through convening around common actions.

Strengthen existing crisis supports.
Transform how to respond to people and families in crisis and prevent future crises.

Current research areas of interest (2023)

Mental health literacy:

Practices to expand mental health literacy to reach equity-deserving groups beyond a school setting.
Working with informal networks and grassroots organizations to increase natural supports and reduce mental health stigma.

Workplace mental health.
Early access to mental health and addiction supports through schools.
Increasing service coordination and integration between health and social services.
Data sharing initiatives.

Harm-reduction initiatives for those in crisis.
Further research on transforming crisis response.

Knowledge Exchange

To advance the Strategy’s current research areas of interest in 2023, researchers and Strategy Implementation teams will have the opportunity to convene to share updates, emerging promising practices, determine systems gaps, alignments, and opportunities to collaborate. For more information, please email communityofconnections@calgary.ca.

Knowledge Exchange

Our first Knowledge Exchange event was held on April 18, 2023, where we provided an update on the strategy and current initiatives. You can watch here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What type of research is the Calgary Mental Health and Addiction Community Strategy and Action Plan looking for?

Research in Action is looking to connect with research projects that have:

Strong alignment with specific Community Strategy actions and initiatives (listed on the website)
Practical applications in the Calgary context
Research findings or implications ready for implementation in 2023/24.

Clinical mental health and addiction services are typically provided through primary care or specialized health care services within Alberta Health Services (AHS) so clinical research projects are encouraged to directly connect with the Alberta Addiction and Mental Health Research Hub.

I am just starting my research project, can I still reach out to the Community Strategy and Action Plan?

Although our current research areas of interest are to connect with research projects that have research findings/implications, we certainly welcome research projects that are at the beginning stage of the research project to connect with us.

What are the benefits of connecting with the Community Strategy and Action Plan?

Here is a list of benefits of connecting with the Strategy:

Share your research/expertise to different audiences
Testing/expanding your research in community/practical settings
Opportunities to participate in advisory committees
Receive letters of support for future funding proposals

Is there funding available to support my research project?

The Investment Framework associated with the Community Strategy provides funding to initiatives through three funding streams – each with its own eligibility, timelines and review process. Research projects that are working with community organizations towards strategic actions are encouraged to explore Mental Health and Addiction Strategy funding opportunities on our website for any future calls for proposals.

If your questions are not addressed in the FAQs, please email communityofconnections@calgary.ca