Accessible and Cost Effective Psychosocial Health Interventions for Canadians

Dr. Patrick McGrath is an internationally known scientist for his work in two areas: 1. developing, evaluating and scaling up technologically aided interventions that teach skills to patients and families and 2. measurement and psychosocial interventions for pain. Dr. McGrath will build on the success of his Strongest Families mental health intervention that won the 2013 Manning Principal Award for the best innovation in Canada. Strongest Families delivers care to families at a distance and is now available via the not for profit Strongest Families Institute across Canada, in Finland & Spain. At the request of the Vietnamese government Strongest Families-Vietnam will soon begin. The Foundation grant will fund his team of staff and scientific collaborators to work in a partnership with the Canadian College of Family Physicians and their Patient Education Committee, to develop, evaluate and disseminate a set of scientifically valid applications (apps) used on the internet and on smartphones that family doctors and others will use with their patients to promote better management of chronic health problems. The program, called HealthEnSuite, will be linked and integrated with other resources. Modules will teach skills and provide social support to patients and to families with health problems including depression, sleep problems and caring for someone with dementia. Continuing education will be available for health care providers in conjunction with HealthEnSuite. This team of scientists, practicing clinicians, patients, administrators and families from across Canada will design and conduct rigorous research which will be turned directly into improvements in health care. The team will also train the next generation of investigators in this area. The long term sustainability of HealthEnSuite will be insured by formation of a not for profit that will license and export HealthEnSuite around the world.