Research Analyst - 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline

Job Description

Through its core values of Courage, Respect and Excellence, CAMH is implementing its Strategic Plan: Connected CAMH, to transform lives, ignite innovation and discovery, revolutionize education and drive social change. CAMH is more than a hospital, it is a cause. CAMH is on a mission to change the way society thinks about and responds to mental illness. They aim to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and shape a world where mental illness is central to our healthcare system – a world where Mental Health is Health.

To learn more about CAMH, please visit their website at: www.camh.ca.

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is seeking four (4) full time, contract (until March 31, 2026) Research Analysts to support the work of 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline and its related projects. Reporting to the Research Manager, the Research Analyst will work closely with the Chief Medical Officer, Scientific Associates, Research Methods Specialist and the Evaluation and Research Team to support all aspects of planning, community outreach and engagement, data collection and analysis, and knowledge translation for evaluation and research projects. You will provide support to a variety of strategic internal and external evaluation, research, and data management initiatives across the portfolio (including ECHO, Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, and 988).

On November 30, 2024, 9-8-8 was launched in Canada as a new national three-digit number for suicide prevention and emotional distress. In 2022, CAMH was announced as the lead for the coordination and administration of 9-8-8, and has acted in this capacity to lead and coordinate the implementation of 9-8-8 and manage the operations and post-launch activities. As of November 2023, this ground-breaking new service is available 24/7/365, in English and French, and accessible to everyone from coast to coast to coast. CAMH is working closely with the federal government and key partners from different groups and communities, provinces, territories and building on our work on Talk Suicide Canada, to deliver this high quality, evidence-based, equitable suicide prevention service to Canada.

The evaluation dimensions of 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline include using rigorous research methods to evaluate user experience, the intervention, and the implementation of 9-8-8. Our projects include working to establish best practices in intervention, exploring the needs and preferences of diverse populations, and exploring relevant intersections with digital health and AI. In addition, we oversee related research projects including one relating to queries about MAID shared by people accessing crisis lines. In all our work, we seek to understand and engage the perspectives of people with lived and living experiences, and to support meaningful knowledge translation applying what we learn both within and beyond 9-8-8.

The Research Analyst will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure high quality execution of the projects in accordance with the project deliverables. The ideal candidate will be capable of conducting daily tasks with minimal supervision and effectively applying a health equity lens to the content in this portfolio. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Supporting data collection (via interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, creating REDCap surveys, etc. as applicable), and detailed cleaning and preparation of data (qualitative and quantitative) for analysis
• Transcription, coding and analysis of data (quantitative, qualitative, and AI-related methods)
• Liaising with internal and external stakeholders and partners
• Assisting with co-production and organizing related workshops and knowledge exchange activities both within 9-8-8 and with external stakeholders and partners
• Supporting the review and summarization of applicable data and assisting in development of knowledge translation materials (reports, publications, presentations), where necessary
• Searching and critically reviewing literature and abstracts to support literature syntheses, environmental scans and background research on particular topic(s) related to suicide-prevention, mental health, and the crisis line sector
• Assisting with the preparation of research and evaluation protocol submissions, and documentation for Research Ethics Board or QPER approval, renewal(s), and study closures
• Conducting recruitment, screening, consent and follow-up of study participants
• Managing data, maintaining large databases and preparing spreadsheets
• Assisting with other administrative duties such as taking meeting notes, assisting with research grants, planning and scheduling meetings, and other tasks as required
• Assisting with the management of research and evaluation documentation
• Other administrative, research and evaluation activities as required (e.g., filing project documents, conference tracking).

The candidate will work both independently and as part of a dynamic interdisciplinary team. They will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork and complies with all applicable and regulatory requirements. This position is located at the Queen Street Site, however, may be some travel required.

Job Requirements

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, health sciences, social sciences, or a related discipline, combined with 1 year of relevant clinical research or practical experience. Preference will be given to candidates with a background in mental health and addictions, particularly those with experience applying a health equity lens to their work.

• Familiarity with the field of suicide-prevention and/or crisis/distress services is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience conducting semi-structured interviews and focus groups with diverse stakeholders (e.g., people with lived experience, community members, service providers, healthcare professionals)
• Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, related software (e.g., SPSS, NVivo) and experience collecting, analyzing, and managing data is an asset.
• Experience summarizing and presenting data for presentations and reports, and supporting manuscript preparation and submission is an asset.
• Proficiency in computer software skills, including with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Notes and PowerPoint), online academic search engines (e.g., PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline), Covidence, SurveyMonkey, REDCap, videoconferencing (e.g., WebEx, Zoom), and ability to learn new programs is required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting projects involving highly sensitive subject matter such as suicide prevention, and in applying strategies to manage your own wellbeing while doing so (working closely with senior team members to apply related strategies)
• Excellent capacity for self-directed learning/working with minimal supervision.
• Detail-oriented and able to exercise initiative and good judgment.
• Familiarity with the following subject areas is an asset: the use of AI to support evaluation; medical assistance in dying (MAID); implementation science; person-centred user experience evaluation and research methods;
• Experience with lived experience engagement is an asset
• Experience working in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and familiarity with related frameworks (e.g., OCAP principles) is an asset
• Training and demonstrated experience in applying principles relating to cultural competency, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within evaluation and research projects is preferred
• Ability to multi-task and produce high-quality, accurate work while meeting deadlines and requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, communication (oral/written) and organizational skills are required.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population and within a dynamic inter-professional team.
• Bilingualism (French/English) or proficiency in a second language is an asset.