Dr. Kim Hellemans is an Assistant professor and the Associate Dean of Science (Student Recruitment, Wellness and Success) at Carleton University. She received her PhD from Queen's University, where her research focused on understanding the biological basis of drug addiction. She later went on to complete post-doctoral positions at Cambridge University and University of British Columbia prior to joining Carleton University in 2008. Dr. Hellemans has received several prestigious awards for her passion and dedication to university teaching. Outside of the classroom, she's the co-host of the popular podcast, Minding the Brain.
Eligible to supervise 4th year capstone courses (NEUR 4907/4908) and independent studies (NEUR 4900).Eligible to supervise at the graduate level.
Over the last decade, a large majority of university students have increasingly reported feeling mentally overwhelmed and sought counselling services and services offering mental health accommodations and support on campus. There is a pressing need to better understand the predictors of depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms among university students because mental disorders are strongly tied to academic success. Dr. Hellemans does research on the factors contributing to mental health and academic challenges among students with a focus on current life stressors, cannabis use, and social media.
As the most senior teaching faculty member in the department, Dr. Hellemans is highly committed to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). She has used several innovative tools in the classroom to foster learning and has received several awards for her dedication to educational development.
(Students who wish to work with Dr. Hellemans on improving learning in the classroom, program, and beyond can consult the Students as Partners Program at the Carleton Discovery Centre.)
In additional to her SoTL involvement, Dr. Hellemans has a rich and diverse portfolio of making neuroscience, addiction, and mental health accessible to different audiences.
Shannon H, Bush K, Villeneuve P, Hellemans K, Guimond S. Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis JMIR Ment Health 2022;9(4):e33450 URL: https://mental.jmir.org/2022/4/e33450 DOI: 10.2196/33450
Patterson, Z. R., Gabrys, R. L., Prowse, R. K., Abizaid, A. B., Hellemans, K. G. C., & McQuaid, R. J. (2021). The Influence of COVID-19 on Stress, Substance Use, and Mental Health Among Postsecondary Students. Emerging Adulthood, 9(5), 516–530. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968211014080
Prowse R, Sherratt F, Abizaid A, Gabrys R, Hellemans KG, Patterson Z, McQuaid R. Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining gender differences in stress and mental health among university students, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 439.
Hellemans, KG, Wilcox, J, Nino Nino, J., Young, M., McQuaid, RJ. Cannabis use, anxiety and perceptions of risk among Canadian undergraduates: The moderating role of gender. 10(3):22–29, SEPTEMBER 2019
