Collaborating for Change: Government, Hospital, Community and Lived Experience Partners at the Table for MHP’s 2025 Research Retreat

On September 29, the Mental Health Partners (MHP) Research Committee held its Second-Annual Research Retreat at Providence Care. Under the leadership of Dr. Bernard Le Foll, Vice President, Research and Academics/Chief Scientific Officer at Waypoint and Chair, MHP Research Committee, the event brought together more than 60 participants, including MHP hospitals, partners from the government and community sectors, as well as individuals with lived experience. The primary aim was to foster collaboration and set clear research priorities to drive impactful changes within and beyond MHP organizations.

The retreat opened with remarks from Dr. Roumen Milev, Vice President, Medical and Academic Affairs, Providence Care, and Allison Philpot, Vice President, System Innovation and Executive Director, Medical Affairs and Research, Providence Care, who welcomed attendees on behalf of Providence Care and provided a brief overview of their organization and research highlights. They were followed by Kyle MacIntyre, Assistant Deputy Minister, Mental Health and Addictions, Ministry of Health, who, in his keynote address, underscored how mental health impacts all of us while highlighting government investments in the mental health care system. Addictions and Mental Health Ontario’s Krishni Ganesan, Director of Policy and System Transformation, then provided greetings, followed by an inspiring lived-experience speaker, who shared the value of living/lived voice in system improvement and research.

The morning’s session spotlighted suicide reduction, a selected focus from last year’s retreat. Providence Care’s Terry Landry, Vice President, Mental Health and Community Programs, presented on the Living Safety Plan – Kingston, while St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Zero Suicide Initiative was shared by Shauna Graf, Consultant, Quality, Transformation and Innovation. Together, these examples illustrated how evidence‑based frameworks and community partnerships can be mobilized to save lives. Dr. Maiko Schneider, Deputy Chief of Adult Psychiatry, Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and Dr. Danielle Rice, Psychologist, Mood Disorders Program, at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, capped off the conversation by presenting the progress MHP’s Research Committee has made on their Root Cause Analysis (RCA), research catalyzed by last year’s retreat that will analyze the recommendations and learnings from inpatient deaths by suicide and near misses at MHP hospitals following system reviews.

Concluding the morning session was Dr. Vivian Capewell, Director, Quality Measurement and Clinical Decision Support at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, who presented on OSP West’s implementation. Her insights offered valuable takeaways for best practices—particularly around data collection and privacy—that could be applied to strengthen MHP’s RCA.

After a delicious lunch catered by Jobwell, the afternoon turned to the important and complex issue of restraint and seclusion (R&S) practices in MHP hospitals. Dr. Phil Klassen, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Research, of Ontario Shores, presented findings from a recent MHP survey, providing a system‑level view of current practices at MHP hospitals. Spotlight presentations from North Bay Regional Health Centre’s Lise St. Marseille, Vice President, Mental Health and Addictions, and Dr. Valerie Primeau, Psychiatrist, Medical Director for Mental Health, and Ontario Shores’ Phil Klassen highlighted emerging best practices and innovative approaches to minimizing R&S use.

Participants then engaged in a World Café, facilitated by CAPSA’s Shawn Fisk, Education and Partnership Lead, and St. Joseph’s Care Group’s Cathy Clara, Director, Mental Health Services, to explore potential research opportunities regarding R&S.

Following the World Café session, a participant consensus determined there was an opportunity to reduce the use of R&S across the MHP sites to promote patient and staff safety. The discussion also emphasized the importance of incorporating patient experience and feedback—alongside staff perspectives—when addressing R&S, recognizing this as central to advancing psychological health and safety.

The day concluded with an agreement that MHP’s Research Committee would continue its current focus on reducing inpatient deaths by suicide and near misses while exploring joint opportunities in R&S to improve patient outcomes.

A detailed post-event report will be shared in the coming weeks.