Dr. Geoffrey Maina Receives CRISM Grant
The University of Saskatchewan has created a number of initiatives in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action (2015).
The College of Nursing Prince Albert campus is positioning itself to take a lead on research that will enhance the mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous people in the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region and Northern Saskatchewan. Specifically, a group of nursing faculty have identified substance use and addiction as a common interest and are teaming up to work on research to help those in vulnerable situations.
Dr. Geoffrey Maina, Assistant Professor at the Prince Albert campus, has received funding from the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM), to develop and host a one day knowledge exchange forum involving community leaders, service providers in substance use and addiction, local stakeholders, as well as elders, to share their experiences on addiction and to explore ways to prevent and respond to the addiction crisis in the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.
“There is a high occurrence of substance use and addiction in Prince Albert,” said Maina. “Although the goal of the one day forum that we are planning for this summer is to identify priority needs for substance use research in Prince Albert, our group hopes this initiative will lead to other projects that will support the development of resources for substance use and addiction that are culturally relevant.”
Dr. Maina is working alongside a group known as the CRISM Prairie Node. This network brings together researchers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba investigating substance misuse and addiction interventions. Drs. Brenda Mishak (College of Nursing, Prince Albert), Anthony de Padua (College of Nursing, Prince Albert) and Gillian Strudwick (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ontario) are co-applicants on this grant.