Research Engagement Infrastructure Support

The Lived Experience Research Committee (LERC) is a group of individuals with diverse lived and living experience of mental health and substance use challenges who bring their unique perspectives to consult with researchers, advise on research projects, policies, and processes, and champion meaningful research engagement at CAMH.

The Research Family Advisory Committee is composed of people who care for loved ones who experience mental health, substance use and developmental challenges. “People” could be parents, children, siblings, significant others, or caregivers of choice and is defined as such. In the role of advisor on the committee, they share their experience and expertise to inform, collaborate and present a family or caregiver perspective on research across disciplines at CAMH.

Established in 2020, the committee is representative of the wide range of populations that CAMH serves including but not limited to child and youth mental health, substance use, neurodevelopmental conditions, multiple mental health challenges and geriatric psychiatry. The group is available to advise on cross-hospital research elements including research projects, research policy, and research processes.

The Azrieli Caregiver advisory committee is a group of family members/ caregivers of loved ones with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and mental health challenges who work with the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre to advise on ongoing activities of the Centre. The group meets monthly where members share their perspective and feedback on projects, including research-related, educational, and ECHO-led projects.

The self-advocate’s advisory committee is a group of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who work with the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre to advise on ongoing activities. The group meets monthly where members share their thoughts and feedback on research ideas and findings presented by researchers.

The Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is composed of 6 youth with bipolar disorder who have received clinical care and/or been involved in research at CYBD. The youth advisors work collaboratively with the CYBD team to explore ideas for new initiatives, identify unmet needs and opportunities where CYBD can have the most impact. The overall goal of YAC is to share knowledge and reduce stigma by bringing their voice and first-hand experiences.

The CLC Research Subcommittee facilitates and drives the strategic directions for RC research at CAMH by engaging the CLC community, exploring the mental health literature and leveraging members’ diverse areas of expertise. The subcommittee has several aims:

• To guide research activities related to the CLC by engaging with the CLC community, the mental health literature, members’ lived/living expertise and their unique location within the mental health system
• To create a space where people with learned and lived expertise can guide Recovery College (RC)  and CLC research in a collaborative way
• To advise other groups in the mental health community on matters relating to RC, and CLC research and on cross-cutting issues of interest to the subcommittee.

The Forensic Patient Advisory Council is made of patient advisors with lived experience of accessing forensic mental health services and CAMH staff and physicians. Through the work of this advisory council and its associated subcommittees, patients use their perspectives and experiences to shape policy, care, research, infrastructure and most importantly, the patient experience of Forensic Services.

The Forensic Family Advisory Council is made of family members with loved ones who have accessed forensic mental health services, and CAMH staff and physicians. Through the work of this advisory council and its associated subcommittees, family members will use their perspectives and experiences to shape policy, care, research, infrastructure and most importantly, the patient and family experience of Forensic Services.

CAMHs Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is made up of youth members between the ages of 16-29 who are currently living in the Greater Toronto Area. YAG members are able to draw from their lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges to provide feedback and collaboration on projects and programs at CAMH and within the community. YAG members have the opportunity to participate in different ways where they may provide consultation on research projects, develop youth-friendly resources, or advise on clinical programs.