York University’s Office of Women’s Health Research Chair in Mental Health, led by Professor Nazilla Khanlou, is making significant strides in addressing mental health challenges faced by women, youth, and families from diverse and marginalized backgrounds.
Appointed as the inaugural holder of the Ontario Women’s Health Council Chair in Women’s Mental Health Research at York in 2008, Khanlou has leveraged her clinical background in psychiatric nursing to advance research and understanding of under-represented groups.
Khanlou’s work is deeply rooted in community-based mental health promotion, particularly among multicultural and immigrant-receiving communities. Her extensive research, funded by organizations such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council, has explored the well-being and mental health needs of specific populations. She has focused on youth and women in these settings, addressing issues such as gender-based violence, patient-centred care for women, and identity-related factors affecting the mental health of immigrants and refugees.
The office received funding from the CIHR to advance trauma-informed mental health care for women at risk of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative was crucial, as the pandemic exacerbated existing disparities, with certain populations facing higher risks of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. In an earlier YFile article, Khanlou emphasized the urgent need for developing guidelines to support these communities, noting that “the COVID-19 pandemic has differentially impacted populations. We need to rapidly examine what we know in the literature to inform specific guidelines that address mental health support.”
Khanlou’s research is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to knowledge transfer. Her team engages with community members, academics and policymakers to ensure that research findings are shared and implemented effectively. One of the office’s notable projects explored the identities of Asian Canadian youth amid the pandemic, using arts-based methods to understand the impact on youth identity and belonging.
Attia Khan, a postdoctoral fellow at the office, highlights the importance of this approach: “Our Readers Theatre workshops, part of the research on Asian Canadian youth identities during the pandemic, were led by youth peer leaders. Young people on the advisory committee were involved in all phases of the research, from planning and recruitment to analysis and knowledge creation.”
By ensuring that research findings are not only shared but also actively informing policy, the office plays a crucial role in shaping mental health strategies that reflect the needs of diverse communities. The office has significantly influenced mental health policies, particularly through participatory policy studies that explore the relationship between immigrant women’s activism and mental health promotion.
Khanlou and her team remain focused on immediate challenges, while also paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable mental health landscape. By fostering resilience and well-being among marginalized populations, they are ensuring that their research leads to meaningful improvements in mental health care across Canada. With ongoing projects and collaborations, the office is poised to influence future mental health strategies and policies, making a lasting impact on communities nationwide.
“Change,” Khanlou has noted, “is an ongoing process, so if we are going to make change, we have to be committed to it on a long-term basis.”