In Our VoICES

From diagnosis to dignity: Join us as we explore how autism research is shifting focus — centering the real-life experiences of autistic people, breaking down barriers in healthcare, and building a future rooted in empathy, inclusion, and understanding. 

Dr. Yona Lunsky is an adjunct scientist at ICES and Scientific Director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre and Director of the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities Program (H-CARDD) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Dr. Lunsky has focused her research on the mental health needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. She studies psychosocial risk factors for psychiatric disorders and health service utilization patterns in this population.

Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai is a senior scientist and staff psychiatrist at CAMH. He is also an associate professor and co-chair of the Advisory Council for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity and Accessibility in Clinical Care in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lai’s research focuses on understanding and improving the mental health and wellbeing of autistic and other neurodivergent individuals, across sexes and genders, as well as their families. His research particularly concerns the experiences of female and gender-diverse autistic people and the relations between neurodivergence, sex differentiation, gender socialization, and mental health.

Read the research from Dr. Yona Lunsky and Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai:  

Hospital use among autistic adults in Canada

Self-harm events and suicide deaths among autistic individuals in Ontario, Canada

Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH  

Resources:  

Autistic SPACE: a novel framework for meeting the needs of autistic people in healthcare settings | British Journal of Hospital Medicine  

CAMH Resources: Autism and Mental Health 

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting
Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha
Music licensed through Melodie Music

LINKS:

Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca

What are the "highs" and "lows" of cannabis legalization in Canada?  

From rising cases of psychosis and a puzzling vomiting syndrome to the struggle of spreading accurate public health messages, we unpack the real-world health effects of legalization — made in Canada. 

Please note, this podcast was recorded before the holidays, which is why we refer to holiday dinners in one of our questions.

Our guest:

Dr. Daniel Myran is a public health and family medicine physician and researcher. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Social Accountability at the University of Ottawa, and is an ICES Adjunct Scientist, Investigator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute, and a Clinician Investigator at The Ottawa Hospital. His program of research involves using health administrative data to examine the burden and societal impact of mental health conditions and substance use. Dr. Myran’s primary focus is examining the health impacts of changes in alcohol/cannabis and drug policies and their influence on health inequities. As a secondary area of interest, he uses big data to examine the health of physicians and their practice patterns.

Read the research from Dr. Myran:

Read the Op‐Ed: There are good reasons to be anxious about growing cannabis use in Canada - The Globe and Mail

1. Transition to schizophrenia spectrum disorder following emergency department visits due to substance use with or without psychosis

2. Emergency department visits involving hallucinogen use and risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorder

3. Association between non-medical cannabis legalization and emergency department visits for cannabis-induced psychosis

4. Changes in emergency department visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome following recreational cannabis legalization and subsequent commercialization in Ontario, Canada

5. Unintentional pediatric poisonings before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting
Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha
Music licensed through Melodie Music

LINKS:

Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca

Want to understand more about data, health research, and analytics? We've got you covered in this pilot season of In Our VoICES. Follow the show on your favourite podcast app so that you don't miss an episode!

EPISODE CREDITS:

Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up Podcasting
Artwork designed by Stella-Luna Ha
Music licensed through Melodie Music

LINKS:

Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca