Knowledge Synthesis: COVID-19 in Mental Health and Substance Use (Knowledge Synthesis Grant: COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity in Mental Health and Substance Use)
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with your unit
Memorial Deadline: Tuesday 5th, May 2020
External Deadline: Thursday 7th, May 2020
Description
The pressure the global pandemic of COVID-19 has put on the healthcare and public health systems in Canada and globally is unprecedented. The need for effective treatment and infection control measures is clear, but as the situation develops, we also need to be proactive in identifying and supporting adaptation and growth of the current infrastructure for mental health and substance use, including psychosocial supports, adapt evidence-based services (e.g., virtual care) and related surveillance activities.
This funding opportunity is part of Government of Canada’s continued rapid response to address the public health challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will be provided through multiple competitions designed to address COVID-19 mental health and substance use responses. This funding opportunity will enable the development of rapid and timely knowledge syntheses and related knowledge mobilization plans to address evidence gaps and build the evidence base as part of the mental health and substance use response to COVID-19. This could include, for example, examination of the impact on at-risk populations, relevant evidence focused on services, delivery and development of guidelines, and evidence related to effectiveness of services or implementation of interventions.
Rapid Knowledge Synthesis is meant to accelerate all phases of knowledge synthesis production (application, review, and research and knowledge translation) – to offer timely, accessible and relevant evidence to decision makers at municipal, provincial/territorial, and federal levels in a rapid timeframe. Knowledge syntheses can draw on a wide range of evidence, including from other public health emergency or disaster response contexts, to be assessed for transferability and/or applicability to COVID-19. Knowledge syntheses in this funding opportunity may synthesize results from qualitative research, quantitative research or draw on mixed methods.
Knowledge mobilization plans should describe considerations for the application of this knowledge under current contexts (e.g., ensuring alignment with the potential needs and priorities of decision makers and other knowledge users). These should be developed using plain language and in a format that is accessible to the target audience.
Funding to support implementation science and population-level intervention research to address the impacts of COVID-19 and containment measures on mental health and substance use will be funded through a second funding opportunity. This subsequent funding opportunity is expected to be launched within the next month.
Knowledge syntheses from this funding opportunity will be made available to successful investigators in the subsequent implementation science funding opportunity.
Additional information can be found here.