Our Thematic Areas

CRHESI Thematic Areas

CRHESI seeks to address five thematic areas. Our primary model for research is lead by teams of researchers (including community partners, academic researchers and students) who work in these areas, and identify cross-cutting themes affecting their populations. CRHESI also leads Centre-level research projects or initiatives. Included here are examples of the types of questions that may be posed by researchers affiliated with CRHESI.

1) Poverty and inequality: What are the impacts of income inequality on health? What are the intersections among mental health, addictions, substance misuse, gender, and income inequality? What works? What doesn’t? What type of evidence is required to demonstrate effectiveness?

2) Discrimination, violence and marginalization: How do various forms of trauma, including personal violence histories, community/historical trauma, and structural forms of violence, impact health indicators? How can we better integrate trauma-informed approaches into service provision in clinical care and public health?

3) Working conditions/employment security: How does precarious employment impact on individual and family health and well-being? how do people experiencing long-term unemployment within London, Ontario negotiate daily living needs required to sustain health and well-being? What health challenges are associated with the working conditions experienced by precarious workers? How can we better support the health and well-being of individual and families experiencing precarious employment and long-term unemployment?

4) Legacies of colonialism and contemporary realities: How does historical trauma shape the lives of Aboriginal peoples; What barriers do Indigenous youth in our community and surrounding regions face in completing education and obtaining adequate employment?

5) Health policy and services: How is income distribution related to availability of, and access to, health services in London? Are there differences in who accesses care? How can these differences be addressed?