McMaster student research and art showcased at CMHA Hamilton’s Art & Inquiry Soirée

Students from McMaster University participated in the Canadian Mental Health Association Hamilton’s (CMHA) recent 60th anniversary celebration through the Art & Inquiry Soirée – an event delivered in partnership with McMaster’s Community Research Platform (CRP) and the Centre for Advanced Research on Mental Health and Society (ARMS). Together, these partners created a unique space that brought academic research into direct conversation with community based knowledge and lived experience.

Held at CMHA Hamilton on April 23rd, the event featured both a research showcase and an art exhibition, highlighting work by McMaster students and faculty alongside pieces created by community members with lived experience of mental health challenges. The evening fostered dialogue, reflection, and shared expression, emphasizing the value of multiple ways of understanding and addressing mental health challenges.

Student researchers presented posters on their projects and engaged directly with attendees, answering questions and discussing their findings. The event provided a valuable opportunity for students to share their work beyond academic settings, connecting with community members, representatives from the city and social service agencies, and individuals with lived experience – an exchange made possible through the collaborative efforts of CRP, ARMS and CMHA.

The featured research spanned diverse areas of mental health, including perinatal and postpartum mental health, positive psychology interventions for youth, the role of nature in supporting international student well-being, access to primary care for individuals with mental health conditions, the impact of coming out on bisexual mental health, sensory experiences related to PTSD, trauma-informed care for incarcerated individuals, the use of peer support in public libraries, and youth experiences of discrimination and identity.

The sold-out event also included remarks from Sue Phipps, CEO of CMHA Hamilton, offering a reflection on the organization’s service to the community since its founding in 1966. She highlighted the evolution of CMHA’s approach to mental health care and shared insights into the organization’s current initiatives, including their growing research engagement.

The Art & Inquiry Soirée reflects a strong collaboration between the CRP, ARMS and CMHA Hamilton. Together, we are creating opportunities for more integrated, community-engaged mental health research that is both rigorous and responsive to real-world needs.