Danielle Fearon is a final year PhD Candidate in Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Her dissertation explores traumatic life events, and substance use in inpatient psychiatry. Danielle is passionate about community- and population-level data analysis using large data sets. Beyond statistical modelling, Danielle is deeply committed to exploring mental health, and addictions. By merging her analytical expertise with her passion for health systems, she strives to contribute meaningful insights in our understanding of health across the life course.
Applying a community-based mental health lens to Canadians access to mental healthcare in the context of COVID19
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on mental health, and substance use in Canada. These impacts extend across genders, and diverse populations. Since May 2020, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) undertook a federation-wide research project and national monitoring surveys to understand how Canadians and the community health organizations support Canadians. This project is in support of CMHA’s objectives to monitor mental health across Canada at the community level.
In partnership with CMHA and Mitacs, the project aims to provide insight into issues faced by youth, young adults, and marginalized individuals (e.g., trans and non-binary people, various minority groups). Using polling data collected by Mental Health Research Canada, community-based mental health care is assessed with temporal statistical analyses of this large dataset. The guiding objectives are to assess access to mental health services, the distribution of mental illnesses and burnout, substance use (i.e., alcohol, and cannabis use), employment status, and help-seeking behaviours. This research will also produce summary reports of key findings that will be made publicly available.