Shay-Lee Belik - Biosketch

Brain Star Award (biweekly award to trainees)

October 1, 2007

Currently, I am pursuing my Masters of Science in the Department of Community Health Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. My thesis project aims to examine whether the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts differ when comparing an American Indian sample to a US general population-based sample. I have been involved in research in various aspects throughout my university education, due to my enrolment in the Faculty of Science (BSc Psychology) at the University of Manitoba, my involvement with the Stop FAS Program at Healthy Child Manitoba, and my employment with the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Research Group (MADRG). My previous experience in population-based mental health research and the supportive mentorship from Dr. Jitender Sareen, my MSc supervisor, has inspired me to continue working in this area. He and Dr. Brian Cox, a Canada Research Chair in Mood and Anxiety Disorders, supervised me during my undergraduate Honours thesis project through a CIHR-funded NET in post traumatic stress disorder, led by Dr. Gordon Asmundson.

Various research projects throughout my Masters program will be based on data from population-based mental health surveys. This type of work will enable dissemination of findings through peer-reviewed publications and conferences to mental health practitioners at local and international levels, and will allow me to contribute in a meaningful way to communities outside the University. I published my Honours thesis in an internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal and have been involved with multiple manuscripts that have been published in high impact journals (Archives of General Psychiatry, Archives of Internal Medicine, Psychological Medicine). I am also a second author on a manuscript that is currently under review at the Lancet. Additionally, I have participated in discussions with senior investigators, international collaborators, and Aboriginal community members in developing an important new initiative in suicide prevention in this vulnerable population, which was recently funded by CIHR in the operating grants competition