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Mental Health and Addictions

"... researchers work with partners on project which aide decision-makers in better understanding the implications of resource use in mental health and addictions..."

Background

Economic research in mental health and addictions deals with the use of scarce resources and their outcomes. A variety of techniques, including cost effectiveness analysis and health technology assessment, have evolved in recent years to provide information for policy makers who have recognized that there are not enough resources to go around and who needs information to help develop priorities. IHE initiatives in this area began several years ago when the Alberta Mental Health Board (AMHB) approached IHE to collaborate on an initiative to develop provincial databases for the use of economic analysis. IHE has partnered with government non-profit agencies, and industry to develop economic studies to be used as an aide to policy making.

Types of Studies

IHE conducts policy driven research. IHE researchers work with partners on projects which help decision-makers in better understanding the implications of resource use in mental health and addictions by studying the interplay of the economic environment, health determinants, and services.

IHE activities include:

  • Macroeconomic overviews of resource use
  • Eonomic evaluation analysis
  • Studies of specific treatment modalities, including modes of care and pharmaceuticals
  • Studies of resource use for specific population groups (immigrants, aboriginals, seniors, children, women)
  • Studies of persons with specific diagnoses (depression)
  • Economic modeling
  • Systematic literature reviews
  • Consensus development conferences

Dissemination and Knowledge Transfer

IHE conducts and disseminates research in a number of ways to increase its impact. These include traditional approaches such as publications in scientific journals, conference presentations, information via Internet, press releases, workshops, seminars, and other educational activities.

The most recent dissemination and knowledge transfer activities include:

  • A Consensus Developement Conference on Depression in Adults: How to Improve Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment hosted by IHE, Alberta Health SErvices-Alberta Mental Helath Board, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada, with support from the Alberta Depression Initiative
  • Mental Health Economic Statistics in Your Pocket, an IHE report co-sponsored by Alberta Health Services-Alberta Mental Health Board
  • How Much Should We Spend on Mental Health?, an IHE booklet in partnership with Alberta Health Services-Alberta Mental Health Board
  • The Alberta Depression Initiative (a collaboration of Alberta Health and Wellness, Albera Health Services-Alberta Mental Health Board, IHE and Wyeth) studies on the epidemiology and economics of depression
  • Spousal Violence Against Women: How to Prevent Recurrence, and IHE report
  • Jacobs P, Yim R, Ohinmaa A et al. Expenditures on mental health and addictions for Canadian provinces from 2003/2004. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 53(3) (2008)
  • Block R, Slomp M, Patterson S, Jacobs P, Ohinmaa A, Yim R, Dewa C. The impact of integrating mental and general health services on mental health's share of total health care spending in Alberta. Psychiatric Services 59(8) (2008)
  • Studies currently underway in partnership with the Alberta Alcohol and Substance Abuse Commission and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Who We Are

IHE researchers include full-time staff and academic fells who are faculty members at Alberta universities.

Researchers who have contributed to IHE initiatives in mental health and addictions include:

Egon Jonsson - PhD, Economists, Executive Director and CEO of IHE
Phil Jacobs - PhD, Economist at IHE and University of Alberta
Angus Thompson - PhD, Clinical Psychologist at IHE and University of Alberta
Arto Ohinmaa - PhD, Economist at IHE and University of Alberta
Rita Yim - MA, MPH, Research Economist at IHE
Bing Guo - MD, Physician, Health Technology Assessment Researcher at IHE
Christa Harstall - MHSA, Director of Health Technology Assessment at IHE
Scott Patten - MD, PhD, Psychiatrist and Epidemiologist at University of Calgary
Mingshan Lu - PhD, Economist at University of Calgary
Steve Newman - MD, Physician and Epidemiologist at University of Alberta
Ray Block - PhD, Former CEO at AMHB, Economist at University of Alberta
Carolyn Dewa - PhD, Economist at University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Kim Lim - PhD, Economist at University of Singapore and visiting IHE staff