Research summary
Intersectionality is a way to understand the multiple disadvantages that a person may face. For example, a racialized older woman may face discrimination at work based on her race, gender and age. Intersectional risk and resilience factors can contribute to the development of psychological distress. As Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity, Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is using clinical and counselling psychology, health psychology and public health approaches to understand these factors and find ways to reduce the distress.
She and her research team are exploring psychological interventions to improve parent and child mental health. They are trying to identify the types of psychological support provided through mobile devices that can best engage patients from traditionally under-served groups. They also hope to shift public policy to make mental health services more accessible and to find ways to recruit and train more diverse, culturally competent clinician scientists.