The Cohort Network for Adolescents and Youth with Multiple Mental Health Conditions (CALM), one of the Ontario Brain Institute’s newest Integrated Discovery Programs, is transforming research on multiple mental health challenges that affect young people.

Since its launch this year, under the leadership of Dr. Louise Gallagher, the CALM team is already reshaping how clinical care is provided to youth. Grounded in the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), CALM ensures that its research reflects the diverse needs of this age group across Canada, making sure that their lived experiences shape every aspect of the program. "We want to ensure that the voices of youth with diverse experiences are included—not just in terms of culture and race, but also in terms of accessibility, language, and other needs," explained Shanique Edwards, Chair of the EDI Committee.

The presence of multiple mental health conditions - such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse - can profoundly affect a young person’s emotional, physical, and social well-being, often with long-term consequences. Despite the clear need for early and effective intervention, youth experiencing multiple mental health challenges are frequently left out of research and clinical innovation. CALM is addressing this gap by studying the progression of these conditions over time, identifying both risk and protective factors, and developing precision interventions tailored to meet the unique needs of these individuals.

"Youth engagement is not an afterthought at CALM—it is integral to everything we do. Young people’s leadership helps us uncover barriers to equity and bridge gaps in care that traditional research might overlook."

- Shanique Edwards, Chair of CALM’s EDI Committee

“One of the biggest barriers we have found is access to plain language information. We are committed to presenting opportunities clearly and consistently, ensuring that no one is left behind,” she continued.

This ambitious study seeks to untangle the complexities of mental health conditions in youth by collecting detailed data on mental and physical health, behavior, functioning, and genetic samples. One of CALM’s primary objectives is to generate new insights into the progression and impact of these conditions. “It’s crucial to constantly ask, ‘Who might we be leaving out?’ When in doubt, we pause, reassess, and adapt to make sure our study reflects the full spectrum of youth experiences,” Edwards emphasized.

What truly sets CALM apart is its Youth Advisory Group, comprised of individuals with lived experience who redefine the understanding of multiple mental health conditions and steer the study based on real-world challenges. The program has six centres across Canada with major leadership in Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), including, The Hospital for Sick Children, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research and University of Calgary.

“Being a part of the CALM Youth Advisory Group has allowed me to reclaim my lived experience as something of value. It has been an eye-opening experience getting to learn from researchers and other Youth Advisors who come with different perspectives on what it means to live with multiple mental health conditions. The CALM summit was an amazing experience as it was the first time I felt like I was a part of the research team and not just a patient,” said Aidan Mohamed, member of the Youth Advisory Group at CALM.

CALM's commitment to improving clinical care and empowering patients and their caregivers extends beyond research. The team has already developed their first knowledge translation resource in collaboration with youth, titled Living with Multiple Mental Health Conditions. This initiative promises more effective and personalized interventions and establishes a new benchmark for research and care in youth mental health.


Learn more about how CALM is redefining the future of youth mental health care.

Header image courtesy of CALM