Since the creation of the RQSHA in 2009, our main objective has been to increase our knowledge of suicide and related fields. Our network has had a clear impact in Quebec by increasing research capacity, by promoting research on suicide and related disorders, such as substance use disorders and behavioral disorders linked to high levels of impulsiveness and aggressiveness, and increasing the productivity and scientific impact of the research community.
Our activities are centered on:
- Improved understanding of the molecular, genetic-environmental, cognitive and developmental mechanisms responsible for vulnerability to mood disorders, substance use disorders and suicide;
- The integration of translational research into our models in order to validate certain theories on the interactions of various factors and their impact on suicide risk;
- Maintain support for unique and open-access infrastructure at:
- The Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank, a unique platform that provides high-quality brain tissue to the neuroscience and mental health scientific communities in Quebec and internationally;
- The services analysis and public health platform is based on collaboration with the INSPQ’s Chronic Disease Surveillance System, which has given us ‘de facto’ access to a register of all suicide cases in Quebec since 1996 (more than 20,000 cases), information on diagnoses of mental disorders and substance use disorders, use of services (including hospitalizations, emergencies, general and specialized medical services), medication and databases on use of the emergency room following a suicide attempt;
- The social regulation platform for suicide analysis, a database held at the Center for History of Social Regulation of UQAM, brings together justice reports, Coroner’s reports and documents associated with the suicide cases listed, from 1763 to 1986 (more than 12,000 files assembled so far);
- The ELDEQ and ÉJNQ Children’s Genotyping Database platform, which tracks two large longitudinal cohorts in Quebec;
- Improve understanding of the factors associated with successful treatment of mood disorders, identify potential biomarkers and support new avenues of medical and psychosocial treatment;
- Target the intersection between substance use disorders and suicide by identifying factors associated with the increased risk of suicide in individuals with substance use disorders, whether biological, developmental, clinical, or at the service and policy level; assess the role of comorbid mood disorders; develop new avenues of research and treatment;
- Improve our understanding of Aboriginal suicide in Quebec;
- Identify and discuss the ethical issues raised by the work of the network;
- Developing a research axis focused on addictions, in particular given the recent legalization of cannabis, a group dedicated to studying the effects of consumption disorders is of particular relevance to our network.
- Promote and facilitate the mentorship of future health professionals to nurture the development of future clinical researchers in mood and substance disorders and in suicide research;
- Support the mobilization of research knowledge and best practices from interested parties, including community partners and specialized interest groups.