TORONTO – Aug. 13, 2026 – Children and youth face rising mental health challenges in an increasingly digital world, especially those from marginalized populations. A new landmark systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of universal digital mental health interventions led by 91��ɫ researchers, finds that digital tools can positively impact young people’s emotional, behavioural, social, and cognitive well-being.

, currently available online, which examines 57 peer-reviewed research articles and includes data from over 40,000 participants worldwide, found that hybrid models, those that combine digital delivery with some in-person engagement, emerged as the most consistently effective approach, with moderate-certainty evidence supporting sustained benefits across multiple psychological domains at follow-up.

The research was led by 91��ɫ Faculty of Health Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell, a nationally recognized expert in clinical psychology and 91��ɫ postdoctoral fellow Kaitlin Di Pierdomenico.

“This study is the first of its kind to synthesize universal digital and hybrid interventions for child and youth mental health,” says Pillai Riddell. “It’s clear that digital tools must be embraced but only if we implement them thoughtfully, equitably, and with real-world contexts in mind. We need to invest in research that includes the children most often left behind.”

The analysis revealed significant improvements across emotional, behavioural, social, and cognitive psychological domains with effects most consistent and sustainable when digital tools were embedded in supportive, structured settings like schools. Critically, the study highlights a striking underrepresentation of research of marginalized populations and younger children (ages 0-4), raising concerns about equity and inclusion in the current evidence base.

"This work looked at whether digital mental health tools help, under what conditions, and whose data we actually have," says Di Pierdomenico. "Hybrid approaches, pairing digital tools with in-person structure, held up better over time than fully virtual ones. We also found real gaps, including underreporting of participant demographics and limited inclusion of younger children and marginalized populations, that matter so universal tools are developed to actually reach all children and youth."

The 91��ɫ researchers worked with Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada (SMSKPC) for the study, a national charity that promotes children’s mental well-being through psychological science.

“Our history has always been about promoting mental health. This research reinforces the urgency to get promotion right – and get it to the children who need it most,” says Anne Lovegrove, President and Executive Director of SMSKPC and a co-author on the study. “We undertook this study not only to inform our own work but to guide the entire sector toward what actually works in a rapidly changing digital landscape.”

The project was also generously supported by philanthropy from the Jackman Foundation, a longtime champion of youth mental health and of SMSKPC and 91��ɫ.

The full study, Universal Digital Mental Health Interventions for Children and Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, is available open access via npj Digital Medicine.  

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About 91��ɫ:

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for meaningful life and career paths. 91��ɫ's Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campus in Costa Rica offers students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs, while at the Markham Campus, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration are built into every program. 91��ɫ’s new School of Medicine, the first Canadian medical school to focus on community-based primary health-care education, will welcome its first cohort in September 2028. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contacts: Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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While ‘most depressing day’ has been debunked, winter comes with mental health challenges for many

TORONTO, January. 19, 2025 – Blue Monday, typically falling on the third Monday in January, has been dubbed ‘the most depressing day of the year.’ While this is more rooted in marketing than science, with the concept being popularized by a travel company a few decades ago to boost winter getaway sales, it does come at a time where it’s common for people to be experiencing issues with their mood, says 91��ɫ Faculty of Health Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell. 

Whether it’s the dark winter days, post-holiday debt or other factors, many people do struggle more with their mental health in the winter, and for some people the effect is stronger, going into Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

“Less daylight, colder weather, post-holiday excess recovery, including physical, mental and emotional, and a particularly bad flu season can all take their toll on our mental health,” says Pillai Riddell, also the Tier 1 91��ɫ Research Chair in Pain and Mental Health. 

Pillai Riddell says most Canadians report having the winter blues and is available to talk to media about strategies to cope with the winter blues./

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91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:

Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) more than $3.5 million dollars combined, money that will go towards research that aims to help parents and neonatal infants, addresses equity and political barriers to global public health concerns and helps further our understanding of the role of an important hormone in heart health. 

Helping preterm babies and parents have better outcomes

Faculty of Health Professor , who heads up the Ouch Lab, and is also the 91��ɫ Research Chair in Pain and Mental Health, received nearly $1.4 million for work that will look at very preterm infants and how medical interventions and maternal stressors may impact the ability of skin-to-skin contact to help regulate pain in the infant. The project, , will be carried out at the neonatal intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital. 

"Preterm infants are one of the most vulnerable populations on this planet and are exposed to numerous painful procedures everyday of their young lives. Their parental context is a critical factor to better understand and improve their quality of life. Our lab is so grateful to CIHR for their funding to better understand how maternal factors impact their child's pain responses during skin-to-skin care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” says Pillai Riddell. 

Making international health agreements more equitable

Professor was awarded more than $1.13 million that will go towards work being done by himself and other investigators at the 91��ɫ-based Global Strategy Lab, including Faculty of Health Assistant Professor , for . 

“The Global Strategy Lab is pleased to have been awarded CIHR funding to continue our research on designing more impactful and equitable international agreements for health.

"Through a world-leading global legal epidemiology approach, we are advancing global health law, tobacco control, and planetary health in support of 91��ɫ’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” says Poirier, also co-director of the Global Strategy Lab and 91��ɫ Research Chair in Global Health Equity. 

Understanding heart failure better, especially for those with diabetes

Faculty of Science Professor Gary Sweeney will be looking at a hormone that is often compromised in people with diabetes and obesity and is involved in the body cleaning up bad cells in the heart. has received close to a million dollars in funding from CIHR.

About 91��ɫ

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contacts: Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations and External Communications, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

The post 91��ɫ profs to advance health research with more than $3.5M in federal CIHR funding appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ researchers supporting 91��ɫ Region science fair this Saturday, April 6 in Richmond Hill available for interviews

April 03 2024, Toronto – Improving the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients, how artificial intelligence can help in battling wildfires and dual defense systems to tackle auto theft are some of the STEM projects young scientists will show off at the  (YRSTF) this Saturday, April 6. Top projects will receive gold, silver and bronze medals and secure the honour of representing 91��ɫ Region at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Ottawa this year.

This is the ninth year 91��ɫ is supporting the event. More than 130 91��ɫ Region science students in Grades 7 through 12 have prepared 78 projects – either an innovation or discovery. The science fair will also include an alumni panel with former YRSTF gold medalists who went on to compete nationally.

YRSTF Youth Science Canada Regional Coordinator Nathalie Rudner and 91��ɫ professors Robert Tsushima (Chair, Department of Biology),  (Professor, Department of Space Engineering) and  (Professor, Department of Psychology) will be able to speak to media about the event. 

Dozens of judges, including 91��ɫ professors and graduate students, will review the submissions and the gold-medal winners will move on to represent the region and compete at the national level at the . The winners will be among 500 students from across the country vying for the title of Canada’s best science fair project.

91��ɫ Region District School Board and the 91��ɫ Catholic District School Board are among the major sponsors of the fair, which is a partnership effort between 91��ɫ Region Science and Technology Fair Organizing Committee and 91��ɫ. 

WHO: Grades 7 to 12 high school students from more than 20 91��ɫ Region schools.
WHAT: 91��ɫ Region Science and Technology Fair.
WHEN: Saturday, April 6, noon to 12:30 p.m., media sneak-peak of student projects; 3:30 to 5 p.m., community viewing of student projects. Please reach out for requests for earlier times.
WHERE: Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy, . 

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future. 

About 91��ɫ

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contacts: Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations and External Communications, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

The post Media invited to see the next generation of STEM researchers compete for top prize appeared first on News@91��ɫ.