Dr. Chiachen Cheng
Dr. Chiachen Cheng (Chi) is a Child & Adolescent, Adult Psychiatrist and Physician Researcher. As both a clinician and a researcher, Chiachen is passionate about putting knowledge into action. Her research interests are in Early Psychosis Intervention and evidence based practice as it interfaces with paediatric mental health policy.
Early Psychosis
The term “psychosis” describes conditions that affect the mind, causing a loss of contact with reality or trouble deciding what’s real and what’s not. “Early psychosis” or “first episode psychosis” means someone is experiencing psychosis for the first time.
Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) decreases the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and facilitates recovery from illness so that young people can manage their everyday lives.
Research
Dr. Cheng’s primary research interests are Early Psychosis Intervention, evidence based practice as it interfaces with paediatric mental health policy, and models of care for vulnerable populations in rural/remote settings. Her research has examined program implementation and development, fidelity to EPI standards, evaluation of EPI training for healthcare workers, delivery of EPI services in rural and remote regions, and pathways to care among vulnerable populations (e.g., youth, Indigenous people).
EPION
The Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network (EPION) is a network of people who work in Early Psychosis Intervention services (EPI) in Ontario, individuals who have experienced EPI services, and family members. The goal of the network is to support the development and implementation of effective treatment and support systems for the early stages of psychosis.
Dr. Cheng was EPION Co-Chair from 2014-2017.
NorthBEAT
NorthBEAT (Barriers to Early Assessment and Treatment) is a collaborative of researchers and service providers across Northern Ontario with an interest in improving the system of care for youth with psychosis. Since 2012, NorthBEAT has continued to grow in scope and size.
In 2017, the Ontario Trillium Foundation awarded NorthBEAT a Youth Opportunities Fund grant to support a strategic systems collaborative.
NorthBEAT:
barriers to Early Assessment and Treatment
NorthBEAT (Barriers to Early Assessment and Treatment) is a collaborative of researchers and service providers across Northern Ontario with an interest in improving the system of care for youth with psychosis.
NorthBEAT (Barriers to Early Assessment and Treatment) is a collaborative of researchers and service providers across Northern Ontario with an interest in improving the system of care for youth with psychosis.
Since 2012, NorthBEAT has continued to grow in scope and size.
The NorthBEAT Project (2012-15) was a descriptive research project, funded by the Sick Kids Foundation in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), that explored the service needs of adolescents who experience psychosis in Northern Ontario.
In 2016, NorthBEAT expanded its scope to address barriers to early psychosis intervention and improve Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) services.
In 2017, the Ontario Trillium Foundation awarded NorthBEAT a Youth Opportunities Fund grant to support a strategic collaborative. This diverse collaborative will improve coordination of care, build capacity to detect psychosis symptoms early, and enhance access to appropriate services for youth with psychosis who live in Northwestern Ontario.
Research Projects
Psychosis 101
Effective Training and Education for Early Psychosis Intervention Programs: A Pilot Project to Develop and Test Evidence-Based Approaches to Training in Ontario
Principal Investigator: Cheng, C.Co-Investigators: Lem, C.; Howlett, A.; Hanson, M.
Funded by the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Children’s Mental Health at CHEO, 2010-2011.
Final Report
Digital Storytelling
(Co) Producing Narratives on Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Communities: A Participatory Project with Young People Experiencing Psychosis.
Principal Investigators: Gladstone, B.; Boydell, K.M.Co-Investigators, Cheng, C.; Davidson, S.; Stasiulis, E.; Volpe, T.
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2013-2015.
About the Project
NorthBEAT
What are the mental health service needs of youth in Northern Ontario who experience psychosis?
Principal Investigator: Cheng, C.Co-Investigators: Dewa, C.S.; Minore, B.; Katt, M.
NorthBEAT Collaborative: Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation Youth Opportunities Fund, 2017-2021.
The NorthBEAT Research Project: Funded by the Sick Kids Foundation in partnership with CIHR, 2012-2015.
VIEW PROJECT PAGE
Fidelity to EPI Standards
Fidelity to EPI Standards: An applied research partnership to develop an evaluation strategy to improve the quality of care for youth.
Principal Investigators: Cheng, C.; Langill, G.Co-Investigators: Addington, D.; Archie, S.; Dewa, C.S.; Durbin, J.; Lin, E.; Nadin, S.; Robertson, S.
Planning Grant funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2015. IEPA 2012
Partners
View Dr. Cheng's latest presentations on Slideshare
Latest News
Upcoming knowledge exchange events, project updates, and general updates from Dr. Chiachen Cheng.
NorthBEAT eLearning Consultant(s): Request for Quotes
NorthBEAT is seeking support with design of eLearning modules. The following is a description of what we are looking for. Questions/Comments: [email protected] / 807-346-3693. Background: NorthBEAT is a multi-institutional, inter-sectoral Collaborative that is committed to make it easier for Northwestern Ontario youth experiencing psychosis to get the services they need, where and when they Read more about NorthBEAT eLearning Consultant(s): Request for Quotes[…]
Media Release: NorthBEAT Collaborative Official Launch
NorthBEAT Collaborative Official Launch MEDIA RELEASE: December 1, 2017 $882,500 Youth Opportunities Fund Grant Helps Northwestern Ontario Youth Get Care And Services For Psychosis When And Where They Need It Thunder Bay, ON — On Friday morning, local MPP Bill Mauro and Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer Lesley Bell met with representatives from NorthBEAT and St. Read more about Media Release: NorthBEAT Collaborative Official Launch[…]
NorthBEAT Seeking Youth and Family Advisory Group Members
NorthBEAT Seeking Youth and Family Advisory Group Members I have some great news to share with you! As you may already know, from 2012-15 I was the project lead on a research initiative called The NorthBEAT Project. With help from supporters like you, we learned a lot about how the system of care and support Read more about NorthBEAT Seeking Youth and Family Advisory Group Members[…]
Announcing the NorthBEAT Collaborative
Announcing the NorthBEAT Collaborative We are thrilled to announce that the NorthBEAT team has been awarded an Ontario Trillium Foundation Youth Opportunities Fund grant to support a NorthBEAT Collaborative via St. Joseph’s Care Group. This diverse collaborative will improve coordination of care, build capacity to detect psychosis symptoms early, and enhance access to appropriate services for youth with Read more about Announcing the NorthBEAT Collaborative[…]
Coming Up: EPION Scientific Pre-Conference with CCEIP, May 15 2017
EPION Scientific Pre-Conference with CCEIP I am happy to announce our upcoming EPION Scientific Pre-Conference with CCEIP on Monday, May 15, prior to the annual EPION 2017 Conference on May 16-17, 2017. Both the EPION Scientific Pre-Conference 2017 and two-day conference will be held in Toronto at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel. See below for Read more about Coming Up: EPION Scientific Pre-Conference with CCEIP, May 15 2017[…]
Coming up: Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CraNHR) 2016-17 Speaker Series (Thunder Bay)
Drs. Chiachen Cheng and Shevaun Nadin will be presenting findings from the Digital Storytelling project at the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CraNHR) 2016-17 Speaker Series: Innovative Approaches in Health Research at Lakehead University on March 2, 2017. Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CRaNHR) 2016-17 Speaker Series: Innovative Approaches in Health Research Dr. Read more about Coming up: Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CraNHR) 2016-17 Speaker Series (Thunder Bay)[…]
Happy Holidays from Chi and NorthBEAT
Happy Holidays from NorthBEAT Happy Holidays. Thank you all for your continued support of NorthBEAT. This past year has been a quiet one for NorthBEAT, but we wanted to assure you we are still here behind the scenes. We have kept ourselves busy writing up the project results, presenting at conferences, and working on applications for Read more about Happy Holidays from Chi and NorthBEAT[…]
Coming Up: Improving Services and Systems for Transition-age Youth (TAY) in Ontario (Sudbury event)
Dr. Cheng will be participating as a panel member in the Improving Services and Systems for Transition-age Youth (TAY) in Ontario knowledge exchange event on November 9, 2016 in Sudbury, Ontario. See below for details and registration links. Improving Services and Systems for Transition-age Youth (TAY) in Ontario Click here to Register DATE AND TIME Wed, Read more about Coming Up: Improving Services and Systems for Transition-age Youth (TAY) in Ontario (Sudbury event)[…]
UCDavis BHCOE Webinar Series: Fall 2016, Archived Content
Dr. Chiachen Cheng contributed to two educational presentations for the UCDavis BHCOE Webinar Series in Fall 2016. The Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence at UCDavis and UCLA partner to host educational webinars on topics related to mental health services, research and best practices. View the archived recordings and powerpoint slides from Dr. Chiachen Cheng’s fall 2016 UCDavis BHCOE Webinar Read more about UCDavis BHCOE Webinar Series: Fall 2016, Archived Content[…]
IEPA 2016: View posters on Slideshare!
For those unable to make it to Italy for this year’s IEPA conference, two NorthBEAT posters are now available to be viewed on Slideshare. There will be two posters presented by Dr. Chiachen Cheng IEPA 2016, Thursday October 20, and Saturday October 22. (2016) NorthBEAT: Final framework from narrative interviews to explore the needs of Read more about IEPA 2016: View posters on Slideshare![…]