The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (The Royal) is one of Canada’s foremost mental health care, teaching, and research hospitals. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with complex and treatment-resistant mental health and substance use needs through client and family-centred care and research
The Royal includes the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and the Brockville Mental Health Centre as well as a broad array of outpatient and community-based programs that support clients and families throughout Ontario, Canada and beyond.
The Royal is also home to the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR).
Building a better future for everyone with poor mental health and substance abuse issues
Driven by the philosophy that Research is Care, we are integrating leading-edge, research-based treatments into care today, and building a better future for everyone with mental health and substance use health needs. We do this in close partnership with clients and families, and by leveraging advanced technology.
The Music and Mental Health Research Clinic at The Royal is an innovative new research initiative that explores the power of music on the well-being of people facing mental health issues, their families and their caregivers
The mission of the Music and Health Research Clinic
To study the interactions between music and mental health to develop evidence-based practices that can improve well-being for individuals and communities. We will bring together researchers, music educators, health professionals, people with lived experience and caregivers to think about music as a meaningful resource that can improve health and wellbeing for populations living with mental illness.
Thinking of music can be a source of wellbeing, the research that we are conducting is looking at understanding how music can affect the mind and improve mental health conditions. We are working on developing individualized approaches to music as a source of wellbeing based on what works, for whom and in what settings.
In addition, we are integrating music-making into mental health care by demonstrating and validating the wellness benefits of community-based music programs for individuals experiencing mental illness.
