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Challenging the Mental Health Crisis

The statistics are staggering. Roughly 970,000,000 people around the world live with a mental health disorder, a 13 per cent increase since 2017 — and that's not even including the surge since 2020 associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of lost productivity due to conditions such as anxiety and depression is estimated at $1 trillion every year. In Canada, about 6.7 million people are currently experiencing mental illness. This contributes to the $50 billion annual impact of substance use on the country's economy. And it's one of the reasons why 200 Canadians attempt suicide every day. Six-time Olympic medalist and mental health advocate Clara Hughes delivers a speech at the Carleton Challenge Conference But despite the scale of this challenge…

Carleton Experts Available: Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Carleton experts are available to speak to the media about a number of subjects related to mental health and wellness. If you are interested in speaking with an expert below, please feel free to reach out to them directly. If you require other assistance, please email Steven Reid, Media Relations Officer, at steven.reid3@carleton.ca. Argel Aguilar-Valles Professor, Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University Email: Argel.AguilaValles@carleton.ca Aguilar-Valles is available to discuss stress and its impact on mental health, as well as treatments for depression, autism, and schizophrenia. The Aguilar-Valles Lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms that underlie psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders using a combination of models to understand how genetic risk factors contribute to mental…

CIHR Invests $3M in Health Research at Carleton

By Jena Lynde-Smith Carleton University researchers have received over $3 million from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), a single-round record for CIHR funding for the university. The funding will support projects developing solutions to the prevalence of diabetes, chronic pain, gut health disturbances and brain injuries. “At Carleton, we are committed to finding new solutions to real world challenges,” said Benoit-Antoine Bacon, Carleton president and vice-chancellor. “These timely and important projects, led by world-class researchers, are excellent examples of the remarkable impact of Carleton research on our country and the world.” The CIHR announcement follows that of Re$earch Infosource, an independent research and consulting firm, that recently listed Carleton as one of Canada’s fastest growing research-intensive universities. The…

Carleton Experts Available: Mental Health

January 25 has become synonymous with the discussion around mental health in Canada and eliminating associated stigma. Carleton experts are available to speak to the media about a number of subjects related to mental health and wellness. If you are interested in speaking with an expert below, please feel free to reach out to them directly. If you require other assistance, please email Steven Reid, Media Relations Officer, at steven.reid3@carleton.ca. Argel Aguilar-Valles Professor, Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University Email: Argel.AguilaValles@carleton.ca Aguilar-Valles is available to discuss stress and its impact on mental health, as well as treatments for depression, autism, and schizophrenia. The Aguilar-Valles Lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms that underlie psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders using a combination of…

Blame the Brain: Why Weight Loss is More Complex than We Think

At a time when New Year’s resolutions are top of mind, weight loss is a focus for many people. Ads for gym memberships, diet pills, juice cleanses and nutrition coaching flood social media feeds, with the onus to lose weight put on the individual. “Move more,” we’re told, “and eat less.” Melissa Chee, a researcher in Carleton’s Department of Neuroscience, is challenging these messages in her lab, the Chee lab. Her research takes the pressure off the individual and shows there are many factors to consider when it comes to weight management, and the brain is at the centre of it all.   “Weight gain is extremely stigmatized, and the blame is put on the person’s choices,” says Chee. “There’s…

5 senses? In fact, architects say there are 7 ways we perceive our environments

Have you ever wondered why you feel cozy in some places while you feel stunned in others? Think about the last international airport you landed in, or a local coffee shop in your neighbourhood.

New Canada Research Chair to Study Artificial Intelligence in Public Services

By Alysha A. Cunningham Adegboyega Ojo is the new Canada Research Chair in Governance and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Carleton University. The Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) recognition is awarded by the Government of Canada to outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. Canada Research Chair in Governance and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adegboyega Ojo (Photo: Bryan Gagnon) The focus of Ojo's CRC research is the development of governance mechanisms for trustworthy AI-enabled public services. "The adoption of AI in the public sector could boost productivity, enable the delivery of personalized public services and support targeted policy interventions," explains Ojo. "But without effective governance, it could also create new biases and amplify existing discriminations, especially when…

Graduates Reflect on their Carleton Journey Before Crossing the Stage

Read about six exceptional graduates who have made their mark on Carleton through ground-breaking research, academic performance, participation in extra-curriculars and their commitment to change.  

Shad Carleton: Igniting Youth Passion to Pursue STEAM Education

Sixty of the top high-school students from across Canada recently got to call Carleton University home for 27 days as they embarked on a unique academic experience called Shad. For over 30 years, Carleton has proudly hosted the Shad Canada annual summer enrichment program, an immersive experience at a state-of-the-art university for students in Grades 10 and 11. This year, the experience returned in-person for the first time since the pandemic began. Carleton’s Shad experience, one of 18 programs in the country, gives high school students the opportunity to live on campus while exploring university academics, social innovation and hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) workshops. Programming is divided into three themes: STEAM education, design-entrepreneurship and community building.…

Spring 2022 Medallists Discuss Their Academic Journey at Carleton

At this year’s spring convocation, more than 6,664 Carleton students from the class of 2022 are receiving degrees that recognize their resiliency and commitment to education during a uniquely challenging time. Carleton awards numerous medals to honour the dedication of Ravens who have excelled in their studies. On June 3, 2022, Carleton’s Senate met to confer the degrees of the graduating class and announced this year’s winners, including students recognized with the Governor General’s, Chancellor’s and President’s medals. Governor General Gold Medallist Explores Machine Learning and Medical Therapies The winner of the Governor General Gold Medal Kevin Dick is graduating with his PhD in Biomedical Engineering. The medal is awarded to the graduating PhD student at the head of the…