Imagine a treatment improving physical AND mental health is identified by an important number of studies. Scientists continuously work on this treatment to analyze, improve, and understand it better. Imagine that this treatment is not only cheap but makes people save money when used. Imagine now that a large number of professionals are especially trained each year to administer this treatment but next to none are working in any health service centre nor pharmacy. This absurd situation is currently happening in Quebec. Despite the vast literature supporting the benefits of physical activity for mental health, kinesiologists are seldom involved in mental health care settings. Paradoxically, Quebec's and Canada's researchers have made important strides on this subject over the last decade. Indeed, teams worked to analyze physical activity's effect on mental well-being, mental illness symptoms and comorbid metabolic disorders. But kinesiologists (physical activity and behaviour change specialists) are still chronically underemployed in mental health settings nonetheless. Today, fewer than 1 in 3 kinesiology graduates is fully employed in a position linked to their training (including a variety of fields outside of health services). Financing the implantation of kinesiologists in public health services would, therefore, be among the best use of public funds.
Objective Several factors can contribute to the recovery of people living with schizophrenia. According to service users living with schizophrenia, spirituality would be an important element in their recovery journey. Spirituality could serve as a coping mechanism to manage psychological stress. The objective of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between spirituality and cortisol, a stress biomarker, among people living with schizophrenia compared to the general population. Method Participants were drawn from the Signature Project of the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM). The sample included 94 people living with schizophrenia and 95 control participants. Linear regressions were performed to examine the association between spirituality and cortisol. Results Individuals with schizophrenia accorded greater importance to spirituality than control participants, with a medium to large effect size. Spirituality was more important for women than men, regardless of the group. No significant differences were observed in cortisol concentrations. Lastly, spirituality had no effect on cortisol levels in either group. Bayesian analyses confirmed that the absence of effect was real and not due to a lack of statistical power. Conclusion This study highlights the clinical relevance and importance of integrating the perspective of those directly involved by confirming that people living with schizophrenia place great importance on spirituality. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the role played by spirituality in the recovery of people living with schizophrenia does not rely on a physiological mechanism. Therefore, it would be pertinent to explore the relationship between spirituality and other dimensions of recovery, such as psychological, social or cognitive aspects. A better understanding of the role of spirituality in the recovery of people living with schizophrenia would provide a better comprehension of how to mobilize it to support service users in their ongoing journey.
Objectives Firefighters are repeatedly confronted with critical incidents (CIs) at work, which are events that significantly disrupt an individual's normal functioning (e.g. failed interventions, serious accidents, media criticism). Repeated exposure to such incidents increases their vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSIs). In Canada, approximately 30% of firefighters meet the clinical thresholds for at least one PTSI; the most commonly observed being depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, alcohol use, and suicidal ideations. The objectives of this study are to 1) describe the frequency of CIs that firefighters encounter at work and 2) identify the different types of CIs associated with PTSIs. Method This research is based on secondary use of cross-sectional data collected in 2018 as part of a partnership with a Quebec fire department. In this context, 690 firefighters responded to a survey designed to assess their overall psychological health. Participants reported on the CIs they had experienced during their careers. Standardized questionnaires were used to measure symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorder, substance use, and suicidal ideations. Results The results indicate that rare and serious incidents, particularly critical equipment failure, are strongly linked to various PTSI, while frequent incidents are associated with generalized anxiety and depression. Negative media criticism also appears to be a major stress factor associated with several PTSIs. Conclusion Given firefighters' increased vulnerability to PTSIs, this study highlights the importance of considering the diversity of CIs encountered at work as well as the influence of contextual factors such as media criticism. It also emphasizes the need for transdiagnostic approaches and intervention measures rooted in the professional reality of these workers to better support their mental health.
Ojectives The repercussions of a first episode psychosis (FEP) can be very trying for people suffering from it and those around them. The recovery process remains laborious and some people have difficulty engaging in it. Understanding better the effects of group intervention on people suffering from so-called negative symptoms or on those more resistant to usual treatments appears necessary. Adventure therapy stands out among group interventions for its outdoor activities, in a natural setting, aimed at behavioral changes. This study aims to better understand emerging group phenomena, as well as the functions of a group of young psychotic adults who participated in an adventure therapy program. The program included four weeks of preparatory meetings, followed by a four-day expedition in nature and a postexpedition debriefing session. Method This qualitative study is based on participant observation conducted throughout the program, as well as semi-structured interviews with 8 participants who experienced a FEP, carried out up to 6 months after the expedition. The research material was analysed using a thematic analysis, followed by an interpretative phenomenological analysis, in order to deepen the understanding of participants' lived experience. Results The analyses highlighted 8 key themes, 4 focused on group phenomena that emerged during the expedition (mutual support and initiative in interpersonal context, motivational effect, destigmatizing effect, solidarity) and 4 on the functions of group dynamics (containment, regulation, mediation, contemplation). Discussion Adventure therapy appears to promote setting in motion and the recovery of self-confidence among participants in addition to helping them overcome significant relational difficulties related to their mental health diagnosis. The structure of the program, the continuous presence of mental health professionals, as well as the presence of peers with a similar life path, seem reassuring and to allow for breaking isolation, socializing, developing emotional regulation skills, initiating reflections on lifestyle habits and, for some, changing these habits following the expedition. Conclusion This study highlights the therapeutic potential of adventure therapy, which can be beneficial and complementary to usual treatment in a global approach to the treatment of a FEP.
Although new technologies and artificial intelligence promise to improve mental health care, few scientifically validated applications are available, particularly in French. To address this issue, Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal founded the Axel Center to accelerate the digital health strategy and to facilitate technological innovation for mental health research and care. The Axel Center thus addresses a tripartite ecosystem composed of research, clinical practice, and entrepreneurship. The purpose of this article is to introduce an example of an application developed in collaboration with the Axel Center and to present how the center can meet the needs of research teams. This example is Tadeus, a bilingual web application that allows mental health specialists and their partners (e.g. family members, caregivers, service recipients) to enter and share data to more rigorously monitor mental health interventions. In addition to presenting the application, the article discusses the challenges that can arise in the development, sustainability and dissemination of such applications, as well as how the Axel Centre can support research teams in overcoming these challenges.
Objectives In the era of artificial intelligence, our understanding of mental health challenges depends heavily on our ability to generate and analyze large-scale datasets. Accordingly, the Data Valorization Axis of the Québec Mental Health Alliance (ASMQ) was established in 2024 to create a comprehensive repository of open mental health data and metadata in Québec. This initiative's mandate is to facilitate the indexing and discoverability of data and metadata collected in Québec, notably at the 3 main mental-health research centers of the Fonds de recherche du Québec: the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CR-IUSMM), the Centre de recherche CERVO and the Centre de recherche Douglas. Methods To build the Alliance repository, researchers and clinicians at ASMQ affiliated institutions were directly invited to index the datasets available in their laboratories. Nine databases were identified, and some are currently accessible via online-sharing platforms: Neurobagel, Maelstrom, and the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets. Here, we present a description of the data contained in the various databases. Results To date, the data and metadata of 11,570 participants (26% psychosis and schizophrenia, 21% personality disorder, 19% mood disorder, 12% substance use, 10% bipolar disorder, 9% anxiety disorder) across 8 biobanks and datasets have been shared online through the Alliance repository. The biobank metadata includes various demographic (e.g. age, sex, gender, level of education), medical (e.g. psychiatric and physical diagnoses, medication use), psychosocial (e.g. social functioning, quality of life, depressive symptoms), anthropometric (e.g. height, weight), metabolic, behavioral (e.g. sleep, consumption of non-food products), cognitive (e.g. performance on neurophysiological tests), and medical-imaging data. Additionally, general information on governance and procedures for accessing and contributing new data to the repository is provided. Impact The Québec Mental Health Alliance repository enhances the visibility and accessibility of mental-health data in Québec, facilitating the sharing and dissemination of domain-specific data and metadata. The repository also aims to facilitate the harmonization of access procedures and experimental protocols. By advancing open science in Québec, the Alliance repository can catalyze scientific breakthroughs that rely on the analysis of large-scale datasets. This initiative could eventually be extended to other health institutions across Québec.
Collaboration with patient partners (PP) in mental health has become an essential practice, spurred by public policy and participatory research methods. Alliance en Santé Mentale du Québec, inspired by the principles of open science, actively promotes this involvement within the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CR-IUSMM). To mark the occasion of the CR-IUSMM's 30th anniversary, a committee of PPs conducted a series of interviews with key stakeholders involved with the Centre to explore their experiences, challenges, and perspectives regarding the patient-research partnership. In this article, we highlight the transformations and lessons learned from these collaborations.
Mental health in the workplace represents a growing challenge at the intersection of performance imperatives and well-being. Facing the limitations of traditional psychosocial risk prevention frameworks, the figure of the professional peer-supporter is emerging, grounded in the valuation of experiential knowledge as an intervention resource. By mobilizing their lived experience of distress or recovery, these hybrid actors support their colleagues, foster the recognition of lived experiences, and contribute to the cultural transformation of organizations. Drawing on French and Canadian contexts, this study highlights the potentialities and tensions inherent in this role: professionalization, institutional recognition, ethical issues, and the risks of instrumentalization. Thus, the professional peer-supporter appears as a strategic lever for social innovation, promoting a participatory and inclusive approach to mental health at work, yet requiring further empirical and ethical consolidation to be sustainably embedded in professional practices.
Continuous improvement of practices is a constant challenge for healthcare organizations, managers, and decision-makers. Despite knowledge of evidence-based data and recommended health practices, integrating best practices into care and services remains difficult and requires tailored support approaches. Over the past 30 years, several initiatives have been implemented to support the continuous improvement of practices in the field of mental health in Quebec. Within these continuous improvement processes, close collaboration with stakeholders at all stages of the process, under collaborative leadership, has been an essential component. Objectives The aim of this article is to present 3 initiatives supporting the continuous improvement of practices in the field of mental health in Quebec, which involved a participatory research approach as well as a close partnership of more than 15 years between researchers and managers. Method The article draws on 3 different initiatives supporting continuous improvement of practices in the mental health field, as described by the researchers involved. It takes an auto-ethnographic approach and cross-reflection with the aim of identifying points of convergence and findings from experience. The 3 initiatives are as follows: (1) the À portée de main program, supporting the implementation of practices that foster personal recovery; (2) the cross-training program, supporting exchanges and transformation of practices in concurrent disorders; (3) the COMPAS+ program, supporting quality improvement in primary care services. These initiatives involved different stakeholders. Results Several points of convergence were identified regarding the challenges and facilitators of such approaches. They highlight the importance of spaces for exchange and co-creation to enable a redefinition of ways of doing things, as well as what is referred to as "transformative learning." They also illustrate the importance of participatory evaluative research in fostering reflective practice that leads to action and practice change. Conclusion This article provides an opportunity to engage in critical reflection on the complexity of continuous improvement initiatives in our healthcare systems. Despite structural reforms to Quebec's healthcare system, managers and other stakeholders must be able to rely on the expertise of researchers and their ability to inject agility into systems that, unfortunately, are not very flexible. Close collaboration between managers and researchers deserves to be protected and better valued.
Objective This scoping review aimed to examine the current available literature on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) scribes across all medical fields compared to their use in psychiatry. Methods A scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Five electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) were systematically searched for studies published up to June 2025. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts according to pre-established eligibility criteria using the PICOS framework. Full-text articles were then assessed for inclusion. Results A total of 1896 records were identified, of which 15 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in outpatient, primary care, and procedural settings. Across studies, clinicians generally reported favorable acceptance and perceptions of AI scribes. Findings also suggested improved clinician well-being, reduced documentation time, better workflow efficiency, and positive patient experience. Results on documentation accuracy and quality were mixed. Critically, no eligible studies evaluated the use of AI scribes in psychiatry. Limitations included study heterogeneity, with wide variations in study design, sample size, and evaluation metrics. Conclusion The absence of empirical studies in psychiatry highlights a significant gap in the literature, particularly in contrast to the growing body of research across other medical specialties. Because of its unique clinical, ethical, and relational dimensions, dedicated research is needed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and ethical implications of implementing AI scribes in psychiatric care.
Background/Originality Collaboration between patient partners (PPs), clinicians, and researchers is rapidly expanding in mental health care and research. This participatory approach, integrating patient experiential knowledge with scientific expertise is progressively transforming research paradigms with significant positive impacts. Patient engagement promotes adhesion to research projects, facilitates knowledge transfer, and contributes to reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. In addition, it helps advance therapeutic targets and interventions that better address patients' real-world needs. Neuromodulation is an emerging field with the potential to overcome many limitations of our current mental health systems. Its therapeutic efficacy has been demonstrated for various psychiatric conditions, yet it remains largely unknown to the public and inaccessible to many patients who could benefit from these otherwise promising interventions. The involvement of PPs in neuromodulation research and its impacts, currently undocumented in the scientific literature, would offer new and necessary perspectives on these challenges and warrants further investigation. Objective This article explores the roles and impacts of PP engagement in mental health research involving neuromodulation, with a focus on the specific issues that affect its implementation. We also examine the perspectives of both the PP and the researchers currently collaborating on TENTADIS, a project investigating home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for individuals suffering from borderline personality disorder. Through an examination of the literature and experiential reflections, this paper identifies various roles that the patient partner can fill in the co-construction of neuromodulation research and the important effects of such partnerships. Method/Expected Results This perspective article is based on a reflective analysis of co-construction experiences within the TENTADIS project, integrated with current literature on neuromodulation research and participatory approaches in mental health. Expected Impacts (Discussion) Within the TENTADIS research project, the PP actively participates in protocol development, contributing experiential knowledge that highlights practical constraints, participant expectations, and patient needs, thus enriching project design. Expected outcomes include advances in understanding both clinical and patient-related issues associated with neuromodulation, and identification of the specific contributions PPs can make in this field. This collaboration illustrates how co-construction can reduce barriers to access, improve intervention acceptability, and accelerate the implementation of neuromodulation in mental health services.
Introduction Autistic people are particularly at risk of experiencing forms of violence, ostracism or discrimination, which lead to social exclusion in the course of their lives. However, very little research has addressed social exclusion from its subjective dimensions (e.g. attitudes, opinions, social representations and self-perception) and the relational contexts in which these experiences take shape and affect well-being and mental health. This article presents the results of qualitative research conducted with young autistic adults in Quebec who took part in asynchronous online discussion groups. It aims to identify the forms of social exclusion shared by the participants to better understand the relational contexts in which these experiences take place. Method Four asynchronous online focus groups were conducted with 23 autistic adults living in Quebec and aged 19 to 31 (average: 24). They all have received a professional diagnosis of autism. For nearly 3 weeks, open-ended questions were asked on a specific topic. A qualitative analysis using open coding was conducted. Results: The results show 4 main sources of exclusion mentioned by the participants: microaggressions, discrimination, victimization and constraints on self-determination. Social exclusion takes place in a variety of relational contexts, in which the entourage and formal services are sometimes seen as supports, sometimes as sources of vulnerability. Strategies of concealment, self-exclusion and camouflage appear to be ways of preventing exclusion, to the detriment of well-being. Discussion Five avenues for improvement in clinical and reception practices in general services are identified: 1. Develop service delivery practices in general and specialized services that are sensitive to the characteristics and needs of autistic people; 2. Adopt a trauma-informed approach and promote environments that support recovery; 3. Improve the flexibility of services and intervention methods in response to the needs expressed by autistic people; 4. Continue awareness-raising efforts to promote greater social acceptance of autism and neurodiversity in schools and the workplace; 5. Establish cross-sectoral collaborations between the education, employment, health, and social services sectors, involving user groups and advocacy organizations, to contribute to the development of truly inclusive practices.
Objective People in acute crisis who seek psychiatric emergency services are clearly in great distress and likely already show signs of chronic stress. But how can we best measure chronic stress physiologically? Our study aims to assess allostatic load (AL), the "wear and tear" on biological systems that we can measure using different biological marker called biomarkers. Method We aim to assess biological and psychosocial dimensions related to psychiatric symptom changes among psychiatric emergency patients repeatedly evaluated at four-time points: (T1) 48-hours upon admission, (T2) end of hospitalization (about 2 weeks later), (T3) external follow-up (about 2 months), and (T4) 1 year later. We expect that (1) AL at T1 will distinguish psychiatric conditions, (2) higher AL will predict symptom trajectories over time, and (3) that combinations of modifiable risk and protective factors (e.g. health-related behaviors, psychosocial experiences) will boost or buffer these associations. We acquired funding in order analyze hair, saliva, and blood samples that have already been collected as part of the Signature Biobank that offers measures at T1 (N=1,984; 40% women; mean age 41 with a range from 18-81) as well as at T2 (n=685), T3 (n=606), & T4 (n=370). Results In the proposed project, we acquired funding to analyze biobanked tissues to index AL among all PEP and 149 healthy controls. Among subsamples with T2, T3, and T4 measures, we will assess prospectively changes in AL and psychiatric symptoms trajectories simultaneously. Conclusion From admission to remission, the study of psychiatric emergency patients is a unique opportunity to assess extreme profiles that can help refine precision medicine. The Signature Biobank will provide unique insights on the biological signatures of psychiatric conditions and changes over time while also providing unique knowledge and training opportunities for years to come supported by a transdisciplinary team.
Objectifs Les pompiers sont répétitivement confrontés à des incidents critiques (IC) au travail, c’est-à-dire des événements qui perturbent significativement le fonctionnement habituel d’un individu (p. ex. échec d’une intervention, accidents graves, critique médiatique). Une exposition répétée à de tels incidents augmente leur vulnérabilité au développement de blessures de stress post-traumatiques (BSPT). Au Canada, environ 30 % des pompiers rencontrent les seuils cliniques pour au moins une BSPT ; les plus couramment observés étant la dépression, le trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT), l’anxiété, l’usage d’alcool et les idéations suicidaires. La présente étude a pour objectif de : 1) décrire la fréquence des IC auxquels les pompiers sont confrontés au travail ; et 2) identifier les différents types d’IC associés aux BSPT. Méthode Cette recherche repose sur une utilisation secondaire des données transversales recueillies en 2018 dans le cadre d’un partenariat avec un service de sécurité incendie québécois. Dans ce contexte, 690 pompiers ont répondu à un sondage visant à évaluer la santé psychologique de manière générale. Les participants y ont rapporté les IC auxquels ils avaient été confrontés durant leur carrière. Des questionnaires standardisés ont été utilisés pour mesurer les symptômes de dépression, d’anxiété généralisée, du TSPT, du trouble d’usage d’alcool, de consommation de substance et les idéations suicidaires. Résultats Les résultats indiquent que les incidents rares et graves, notamment la panne d’équipement critique, sont fortement liés à divers BSPT ; tandis que les incidents fréquents sont associés à l’anxiété généralisée et à la dépression. La critique négative des médias apparaît aussi comme un facteur de stress majeur associé à plusieurs BSPT. Conclusion Face à la vulnérabilité accrue des pompiers aux BSPT, cette étude souligne l’importance de prendre en compte la diversité d’IC rencontrés au travail ainsi que l’influence de facteurs contextuels, comme la critique médiatique. Elle met également l’accent sur la nécessité d’approches transdiagnostiques et de dispositifs d’intervention ancrés dans la réalité professionnelle de ces travailleurs pour mieux soutenir leur santé mentale.
L’amélioration continue des pratiques est un défi constant pour les organisations, gestionnaires et décideurs de soins et services en santé. Malgré la connaissance des données probantes et des pratiques recommandées en matière de santé, l’intégration des meilleures pratiques dans les soins et services est difficile et nécessite des approches spécifiques de soutien. Au cours des 30 dernières années, plusieurs initiatives ont été mises en place pour soutenir l’amélioration continue des pratiques dans le domaine de la santé mentale au Québec. Au sein de ces processus d’amélioration continue, la collaboration étroite avec les parties prenantes à toutes les étapes du processus et au sein d’un leadership collaboratif a été une composante essentielle. Objectifs L’objectif de cet article est de présenter 3 initiatives de soutien à l’amélioration continue des pratiques dans le domaine de la santé mentale au Québec qui ont impliqué une démarche de recherche participative ainsi qu’un étroit partenariat de plus de 15 ans entre chercheurs et gestionnaires. Méthode L’article s’appuie sur 3 initiatives différentes de soutien à l’amélioration continue des pratiques du domaine de la santé mentale racontées par les chercheurs impliqués. Il propose une approche autoethnographique et de réflexion croisée dans le but de faire émerger des points de convergence et constats d’expérience. Les 3 initiatives sont les suivantes : 1) le programme À portée de main de soutien à l’implantation des pratiques soutenant le rétablissement des personnes ; 2) le programme de formations croisées de soutien aux échanges et à la transformation des pratiques en troubles concomitants ; 3) le programme COMPAS+ de soutien à l’amélioration de la qualité des soins et services en soins primaires. Elles ont impliqué des parties prenantes différentes. Résultats Plusieurs points de convergence ont été identifiés en lien avec les obstacles et facilitateurs de telles démarches. Ils mettent en évidence l’importance d’espaces d’échange et de cocréation pour permettre une redéfinition des façons de faire ainsi qu’un apprentissage dit « transformateur ». Aussi, ils illustrent l’importance de la recherche évaluative participative pour permettre une pratique réflexive menant à l’action et au changement de pratiques. Conclusion Cet article permet d’entamer une réflexion critique sur la complexité des initiatives d’amélioration continue dans nos systèmes de santé. Malgré des réformes structurelles du système de santé québécois, les gestionnaires et autres parties prenantes doivent pouvoir s’appuyer sur l’expertise des chercheurs et leur capacité à injecter de l’agilité dans des systèmes malheureusement peu flexibles. Le travail étroit entre gestionnaires et chercheurs mérite d’être protégé et mieux valorisé.
Objectifs À l’ère de l’intelligence artificielle, notre compréhension des problématiques de santé mentale dépend notamment de notre capacité à générer et à analyser de grands ensembles de données. Dans cette perspective, l’Axe valorisation des données existantes de l’Alliance en santé mentale du Québec (ASMQ), créé en 2024, vise à constituer un vaste répertoire de données et de métadonnées ouvertes en santé mentale au Québec. L’objectif de ce Répertoire est de faciliter l’indexation et la découvrabilité des données et des métadonnées, et plus particulièrement, celles issues des 3 principaux centres de recherche en santé mentale du Fonds de recherche du Québec : le Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CR-IUSMM), le Centre de recherche CERVO et le Centre de recherche Douglas. Méthode Afin de constituer le Répertoire de l’Alliance, des chercheurs et des cliniciens des établissements affiliés à l’ASMQ ont été sollicités pour renseigner et indexer les données disponibles dans leurs laboratoires. Neuf banques de données ont été répertoriées, et certaines sont accessibles via 3 plateformes de partage en ligne complémentaires (c.-à-d., Neurobagel, Maelstrom et the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets). Nous présentons ici une description des données disponibles dans ce Répertoire. Résultats Jusqu’à présent, les données et métadonnées de 11 570 participants à travers 8 biobanques et jeux de données ont été partagées en ligne via le Répertoire de l’Alliance (26 % psychoses et schizophrénie, 21 % trouble de la personnalité, 19 % trouble de l’humeur, 12 % usage de substances, 10 % trouble bipolaire, 9 % trouble de l’anxiété). Les métadonnées des biobanques incluent des données démographiques (p. ex. âge, sexe, genre, niveau de scolarité), médicales (p. ex. diagnostics psychiatriques et physiques, prise de médicaments), psychosociales (p. ex. fonctionnement social, qualité de vie, symptômes dépressifs et anxieux), anthropométriques (p. ex. taille, poids), métaboliques (p. ex. cortisol), comportementales (p. ex. sommeil, consommation de produits non alimentaires), cognitives (p. ex. résultats à des tests neurophysiologiques) et d’imagerie par résonance magnétique. De plus, cet article présente des informations générales sur la gouvernance ainsi que sur les procédures d’accès et de contribution de nouvelles données au Répertoire. Impact Le Répertoire de l’Alliance en santé mentale du Québec vise à accroître la visibilité et l’accessibilité des données en santé mentale. Il permettra de faire connaître, de partager et de diffuser les données et les métadonnées propres au contexte québécois. Le Répertoire vise également à faciliter l’harmonisation des procédures d’accès et des protocoles expérimentaux. En soutenant le déploiement de la science ouverte au Québec, ce Répertoire pourra favoriser des percées scientifiques fondées sur l’analyse de vastes ensembles de données. À terme, cette initiative pourrait être étendue à d’autres établissements de santé du Québec.
Imaginez qu’un nombre important d’études ait identifié un traitement améliorant tant la santé physique que mentale. Un traitement que les chercheurs étudient continuellement en le décortiquant et le peaufinant pour en comprendre les mécanismes. Imaginez que ce traitement soit peu coûteux, mais qu’il fasse aussi économiser de l’argent au système de santé. Imaginez maintenant que les spécialistes dotés d’une formation universitaire pour administrer ce traitement soient pratiquement absents des établissements de santé. Cette situation surprenante est pourtant la réalité au Québec. En dépit de l’importante quantité de données empiriques soulignant les bénéfices de l’activité physique sur la santé mentale, les kinésiologues sont rarement impliqués dans l’accompagnement des personnes aux prises avec un trouble de santé mentale au Québec. Parallèlement, plusieurs importantes avancées en recherche ont été réalisées au Québec et ailleurs au Canada au cours de la dernière décennie. En effet, plusieurs équipes ont notamment étudié les effets de l’activité physique sur la santé psychologique, les symptômes de troubles mentaux et les désordres métaboliques et alimentaires comorbides. Toutefois, force est de constater que les kinésiologues (professionnels de la santé, spécialisés en activité physique et changement de comportement) sont chroniquement sous-embauchés dans le système de santé québécois, particulièrement en santé mentale. On compte aujourd’hui moins d’un kinésiologue diplômé sur 3 occupant un emploi à temps complet lié à sa formation, qui va bien au-delà de la santé mentale. Pour la santé publique, il serait donc judicieux de financer l’implantation de kinésiologues en santé mentale.
