Research
Atlas Institute undertakes and supports research that seeks to improve the well-being of Veterans and their Families. Our research is driven by a commitment to mental health equity and is informed by Veterans Affairs Canada’s seven domains of well-being, which include the social determinants of health. We design our research projects so they answer the questions that matter to Veterans and their Families.
Our current projects include appraising the evidence for peer support, creating a sound measure of moral injury, and assessing the prevalence of intimate partner violence in military and Veteran Families. Whether we are leading studies or supporting our research partners in their endeavours, Atlas aligns its research efforts with what Veterans and their Families tell us are their unique mental health care and treatment needs.
For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Atlas and its research partners launched new studies focusing on topics including:
- Family moral injury
- Experiences of loneliness and social isolation during transition to post-service life
- RCMP mental health
- Thriving after service
- Women’s experiences of transition to post-service life
- PTSD biomarker research in Veterans and Veteran Families
- Neurofeedback and neurobiologically informed treatments for PTSD
- Machine learning in psychiatry
- Moral injury and mental health burdens impacting marginalized communities
Purpose
Our researchers are driven by curiosity and a desire for meaningful change. They have made significant advances when it comes to understanding:
- The causes of PTSD and related mental health conditions
- Preventative interventions for mental health problems
- Improvements to a broad range of treatments and therapies
We are also researching how characteristics that shape who Veterans and their Families are as people — such as gender, age, race and sexual orientation — also shape their well-being outcomes.
Approach
Atlas is committed to being a leader in equitable, inclusive and relevant research. We know that Veterans and their Families have the lived and living expertise that is vital to ensuring that our research is meaningful and successful. That’s why Veterans and their Families are our partners and collaborators in every part of our research process.
At the core of our work is the lived experience of Veterans and their Families. We act on their recommendations for what topics and concerns should be priorities for research. We ask for their guidance throughout the research process — from creating research questions, study aims and designs to launching recruitment and knowledge mobilization activities. This collaborative approach ensures that all research conducted or supported by Atlas is responsive to the community’s unique needs, goals and values.
Our principles extend to intentional integration of the diversity present in these communities. All studies conducted or supported by Atlas incorporate an intersectional/SGBA+ framework. This means that every project considers how multiple characteristics — ability, age, culture, education, ethnicity, gender, geography, income, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation — interact with one another to shape differences in mental health needs and outcomes.
Our Research and Policy team collaborates with researchers and clinicians in Canada and around the world. By merging our collective expertise, we build strong networks capable of taking on the questions that matter to Veterans and their Families. Atlas research is ultimately designed and executed to ensure that Veterans and their Families, service providers and researchers have access to the latest evidence that can then be translated into programming, practice and policy.
Intended outcomes
Our differentiated approach to research will help to improve collective understanding and inform systemic changes in mental health care for Veterans and their Families.
Generate new Canadian knowledge about PTSD and related mental health conditions that responds to the needs and priorities of Veterans and their Families.
Undertake research that answers the questions that are the most urgent for Veterans and their Families.
Prioritize Veteran and Family in research on PTSD and related mental health conditions.
Identify and address the information gap about trauma-related mental health to improve care and treatment options for Veterans and their Families.
- Publish policy recommendations and contribute to the policy conversation on emerging and timely issues, such as moral injury, military sexual trauma (MST) and peer support.
- Inform evidence-based mental health policy decisions as they relate to the well-being of Veterans and their Families.
Our research teams
The Atlas Institute is fortunate to have three teams dedicated to research. Our teams apply their combined expertise from social and developmental psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry, philosophy, epidemiology, social work and public health to the study of Veteran and Family mental health and well-being.
The Applied Research team’s work is informed by the social determinants of health and a biopsychosocial approach to mental health.
With a strong emphasis on interview and survey-based research methods, we strive to answer underexplored questions.
We use qualitative research methods to capture and describe Veterans’ and Families’ lived experiences of a certain phenomenon. In these studies, we strive to offer a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the nature and meaning of human experiences. In parallel, we recognize the importance of quantitative research in providing a broader perspective and generating robust data to support service and program improvements. Our statistical analyses examine trends over time, systemic issues, and health disparities among Veterans and their Families.
By blending qualitative and quantitative research methods, we bring together the power of personal stories and statistical evidence to drive change. Our interdisciplinary approach allows us to conduct research from multiple perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the complex experiences of Veterans and their Families.
The Research Partnerships team endeavours to enhance knowledge and research capacity throughout Canada. Through the provision of funding opportunities and collaborative partnership agreements, including targeting emerging researchers, we strive to expand our understanding of diverse subjects pertaining to the mental health and well-being of Veterans and their Families.
Annually, we offer collaborative funding opportunities through a transparent and equitable request for proposal (RFP) process, ensuring a competitive selection process.
To secure funding, researchers are required to demonstrate, within the RFP framework, how their research aligns with the overarching mission of the Atlas Institute, how their project will positively impact Veteran and Family communities, and how individuals with lived and living experiences will be actively engaged throughout every stage of the research endeavour.
The specific topics addressed through our funding rounds are tailored to reflect the identified needs derived from a comprehensive analysis of research and knowledge mobilization gaps and invaluable insights shared directly by the Veteran and Family communities.
The Clinical Research team aims to better understand the neurobiological basis of the mental health conditions that can affect Veterans and their Families and to develop novel treatment and assessment tools for these conditions.
Here, we take a multipronged approach to investigating the neural pathways that may lead to mental illness. By partnering with the Brain Imaging Centre at the Royal Ottawa Hospital, we implement neuroimaging methods (i.e. fMRI, PET and EEG) to study the brain. Importantly, our brain imaging studies are often paired with qualitative research methods (i.e. 1:1 interviews and focus groups), such that the lived experience of Veterans and Families effectively guide our study design and planned analyses.
We are also developing a number of novel treatment interventions for trauma and stressor-related disorders (including neurofeedback, and cognitive behavioural therapies), as well as new assessment tools for mental health conditions.
Further, our team is involved in training the next generation of clinician-scientists at the University of Ottawa within the School of Psychology and the Faculty of Medicine graduate programs (i.e. teaching courses and supervising graduate students).
Areas of specialization
Our areas of specialization offer a framework to guide the Atlas Institute as it undertakes research in support of Veteran and Family well-being. The focus areas align with our mandate to build the Canadian evidence base on Veteran and Veteran Family well-being and the organization’s strategic zones of focus, which reflect our commitment to integrating the perspectives of Veterans and Veteran Family members in our work.
- Risk and protective factors
- Characteristics or events that increase or decrease the likelihood of a given mental health outcome
- Biological, psychological and social mechanisms
- Underlying factors that, alone or by interacting with one another, contribute to some aspect of mental health
- Screening and assessment
- Tools designed and used to identify the presence and/or severity of a particular mental health problem or illness
- Treatments, interventions and supports
- Pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical responses designed to improve, maintain and support well-being including but not limited to: medications, cognitive therapy, peer support and acupuncture
- Service design and delivery
- Features of health care services, including structure and function, access and use, navigation, and Veteran and Veteran Family experience
Mobilizing knowledge
Making research accessible and understandable to the people who need it is core to what we do at Atlas. Our research teams work closely with knowledge mobilization and implementation specialists to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and the diverse communities we serve, recognizing that the impact of our work lies not only in publishing evidence-based research, but also in effectively communicating it to Veterans, Families and other stakeholders. Through clear and accessible resources, presentations and engagement initiatives, we collaborate to foster awareness, inform policy discussions, and empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding Veteran and Family well-being.
Research spotlight
- Research training course for Veterans and Families
- Atlas at CIMVHR Forum 2024
- Qualitative lived experiences of minority stress exposure
- Experiences of Afghan-Canadian language and cultural advisors
Research training course for Veterans and Families
We’ve launched a new initiative to create, pilot and evaluate a research training program designed specifically for Veterans and Family members. Our goal is to support Veterans and Family members in becoming more confident and capable when engaging in research — whether as advisors, co-researchers or as participants. The program centres on a new research course tailored to Veterans and Family members that will equip them with practical and essential knowledge and skills about research.
Interested in being notified when registration opens?
Atlas at CIMVHR Forum 2024
Attending CIMVHR Forum 2024 in Winnipeg, MB? You can find our team on the agenda! We will be participating in three symposia:
- Understanding the well-being and experience of aging Veterans and care partners from aging in place to long-term care
- Veteran and Veteran Family engagement: From research to knowledge mobilization
- Emerging novel treatments for PTSD
Find out more, including the full list of Atlas presentations, on our event page.
Qualitative lived experiences of minority stress exposure
The Clinical Research team presented their study on minority stress in August with Rainbow Veterans at a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) 2SLGBTQIA+ event in Fredericton, NB. The objectives of this research are to:
- Better understand the qualitative lived experiences of minority stress exposure from an intersectional perspective (in a variety of contexts including of military members and of Veterans who are LGBT Purge survivors), and
- Examine the neurobiological correlates of minority stress
Experiences of Afghan-Canadian language and cultural advisors
Check out our latest publication, Experiences of Afghan-Canadian language and cultural advisors who served with Canadian forces abroad: an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Led by the Atlas Institute, this study conducted six in-depth interviews with former language and cultural advisors (LCAs) who immigrated to Canada before 2002, highlighting their journey from pre-service motivations to post-service challenges.
Getting involved in research at Atlas
Recruiting studies
Interested in participating in research? Research participation helps expand our understanding of Veteran and Family mental health and well-being and can support the improvement of treatments, programs and services. The Atlas Institute leads and supports research projects and new opportunities to participate, with varying levels of involvement, regularly become available. Check out a few of the studies currently looking for participants!
Led by Atlas
Couples and Secondary Traumatic Stress (CaSTS) Study
Led by Director of Clinical Research, Dr. Andrew Nicholson, Atlas Institute
To find out if you’re eligible to participate, please contact:
Self-regulation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) neurocircuitry using multiple sessions of real-time functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rt-fMRI)
Led by Director of Clinical Research, Dr. Andrew Nicholson, Atlas Institute
To find out if you’re eligible to participate, please contact:
Supported by Atlas
Feasibility and effectiveness of a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for Veterans with mTBI
Led by McMaster University Talklab
Studying the effectiveness and implementation of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga for Canadian Veterans with PTSD
Led by Sinai Health System — Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation
Other ways to get involved
The Atlas Institute works closely with Veterans, Families, service providers, and researchers to bridge the divide between research and practice. To expand our connections with the Veteran and Family community, we have developed a volunteer Cadre of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The key goals we aim to achieve with the Cadre are to:
- Help Atlas Institute engage and work with a larger and more diverse group including Francophone Veterans and Families
- Improve our ability to connect with individuals with lived expertise who are available to participate in projects, including research projects
- Expand our ability to link individuals with lived expertise to partners and other collaborators who need this expertise for their work Members of the Cadre would have opportunities to collaborate with us in a range of ways:
- Advising us on issues important to the community
- Informing and guiding projects
- Participating in surveys, panels, webinars and town hall events
Latest publications
Minority stress and structural stigma predict well-being in European LGBTQ+ parents
2025-01-11
Magdalena Siegel, David Steyrl, Abbie E. Goldberg, Andrew A. Nicholson, Martina Zemp
Journal of Marriage and Family
Read the paper
Exploring the impact of biological sex on intrinsic connectivity networks in PTSD: A data-driven approach
2025-01-10
Andrew A. Nicholson, Jonathan M. Lieberman, Niki Hosseini-Kamkar, Kristen Eckstrand, Daniela Rabellino, Breanne Kearney, David Steyrl, Sandhya Narikuzhy, Maria Densmore, Jean Théberge, Fardous Hosseiny, Ruth A. Lanius
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Read the paper
Exploring the association between moral injury and posttraumatic stress symptoms among Canadian public safety personnel
2024-12-16
Andrea M. D'Alessandro-Lowe, Andrew M. Scott, Herry Patel, Bethany Easterbrook, Kimberly Ritchie, Andrea Brown, Mina Pichtikova, Mauda Karram, Emily Sullo, James Mirabelli, Hygge Schielke, Ann Malain, Charlene O'Connor, Shannon Remers, Ruth Lanius, Randi E. McCabe, Margaret C. McKinnon
Journal of Traumatic Stress
Read the paper
Research Compass newsletter
Research Compass is the Atlas Institute’s regular newsletter about our Veteran and Family well-being research.
In each issue, you can expect a diverse range of content, including research highlights, links to access our latest results, a behind-the-scenes look at how we conduct research and updates on ongoing projects. We will also provide information about upcoming events, training opportunities and resources that can further enhance your understanding and engagement with research.
Research Compass — Issue 3 (September 2024)
Research Compass — Issue 2 (March 2024)
Research Compass — Issue 1 (August 2023)
Explore our research studies
Join our recruiting studies and help turn your experiences into learnings that inform treatments and policies. You can also access information about the processes and the results of our non-recruiting and completed studies.
