Horyzons-Canada
Shalini Lal
Horyzons-Canada
Project Summary
Horyzons-Canada is an online platform that provides access to a variety of support services, including mental health workers and peer moderators, interactive therapy activities, and a community to support well-being. The original version of this intervention, referred to as MOST (Moderated Online Social Therapy), was developed by Orygen in Australia through the leadership of Drs. Mario Alvarez-Jimenez (University of Melbourne, Orygen Digital Health) and John Gleeson (Australian Catholic University).
MOST has been adapted for use in Canada (referred to as Horyzons-Canada) through the leadership of Dr. Shalini Lal.
The following is a summary of the Canadian research on Horyzons-Canada to date:
Phase 1 (completed) was an adaptation study with 11 patients receiving services for a first-episode psychosis and 15 clinicians, conducted in 2 Canadian mental health care settings (Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Chatham-Kent Healthcare Alliance). Our published protocol and results are available here:
Adaptation Framework and Study Protocol for Phase 1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29685867/
Phase 1 Adaptation Results: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33118945/
Phase 2 (completed) was a live pilot study with 20 patients receiving services for a first-episode psychosis, to assess patients’ perceptions of the intervention, its safety, and potential benefits. Our trial registry, published protocol, and results paper are available here: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN43182105
Pilot Pre-Post, Mixed Methods Study Protocol for Phase 2: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34879000/
Phase 2 Results: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37029168/
Phase 3 (data collection has been completed and analysis is in progress) is a pragmatic feasibility study of HoryzonsCa implemented and evaluated with 78 patients who are receiving services for schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (including first-episode psychosis) in two Montreal-based clinical health care settings (CHUM and Douglas), with two groups of patients: English-speaking and French-speaking adults ages 18 to 50. Our trial registry is available here: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12561259
We are also conducting a sub-study to Phase 3, with 15 to 25 youth at Ultra-High Risk (UHR) for psychosis receiving services from the Montreal-based Clinic for Assessment of Youth at Risk (CAYR).
Funders
The HoryzonsCa research program would not be possible without the generous support from the following funders:
Phases 1 and 2 were supported by the Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation through a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant (Phases 1 and 2) provided to Dr. Shalini Lal.
Phase 3 received funds from Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and subsequently from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Project Grant, Fall 2020 competition that received over 2000 applications; our project ranked in the top 3% of applications by the committee that reviewed it).
Partners and collaborators
The HoryzonsCa research program was initially launched through collaboration with researchers at Orygen - The National Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, the University of Melbourne (Dr. Mario Alvarez-Jimenez), and the Australian Catholic University (Dr. John Gleeson). Phase 1 was implemented at PEPP Montréal (Douglas Mental Health University Institute), Quebec, Canada, and the First Episode Psychosis Program at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), Ontario, Canada. Phase 2 was implemented at PEPP Montréal. Phase 3 was implemented at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in collaboration with the CRISP Lab and at the University of Montreal Hospital Centre (Clinique JAP).
Detailed information regarding Phase 3 is below:
Project Title: A novel web-based mental health intervention integrating peer support and clinical moderation to enhance recovery and prevent relapse in adults diagnosed with psychotic disorders: A pragmatic feasibility study of Horyzons-Canada
Project Duration: 3 years, 2021-2024
Nominated Principal Investigator: Dr. Shalini Lal
Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Mario Alvarez-Jimenez (University of Melbourne, Orygen Digital Health), Dr. Martin Lepage (Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University)
Co-Investigators: Drs. John Gleeson (Australian Catholic University), Simon D'Alfonso (University of Melbourne, Orygen Digital Health), Hajin Lee (Université de Montréal), Amal-Abdel Baki (Université de Montréal), Ridha Joober (Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University), Tania Lecomte (Université de Montréal)
Knowledge User: Dr. Phil Tibbo (Canadian Consortium for Early Intervention in Psychosis)
Collaborators: Chantal Fournier (Douglas Mental Health University Institute), Shaleen Jones (Eating Disorders Nova Scotia, Peer Support Consultant), Dr. Danielle Impey (Mental Health Commission of Canada) and Dr. Normand Roy (Université de Montréal)
Contact person
Shalini Lal, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.O.T. (Reg.QC)
Email: ymhtechlab@gmail.com
Youth Mental Health and Technology Lab
Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)
Pavillion S 850, Rue St-Denis, Bureau S03.328
Montréal (Québec) H2X 0A9
Email: ymhtechlab@gmail.com