Grant: CIHR-IMHA Inclusive Research Excellence Prizes - Patient Engagement

One in three children in Canada has been exposed to child abuse or neglect, which can lead to the development of negative physical health and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. With heightened family stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, risk factors for child abuse increased, leading to even greater mental health challenges and support needs. Research priorities that capture the perspective of youth and caregivers who have experienced abuse and neglect are thus urgently needed. In line with the saying "nothing about us, without us", our project included youth and caregivers with lived experience to identify research priorities so that research can be relevant, efficient, and cost-effective. The overarching goal of the Better Together project was to generate knowledge of the top ten collaborative research priorities for child maltreatment research in Canada. Through collaboration with youth with lived experience, clinicians, and researchers, we have built a sustainable and equitable partnership of individuals who are invested in a patient-oriented research agenda for child maltreatment research. This application details the impacts and inroads made with regards to patient engagement through this patient-oriented project.