Brandon University Researchers Secure $88,000 for Health Studies

Two researchers from Brandon University have been awarded a total of $88,000 to conduct studies focused on health issues affecting rural communities in Manitoba. The funding, granted by the Manitoba Medical Services Foundation (MMSF), will support research on nurse wellness and recovery from sexual violence.

The awarded funds, $44,000 each over a two-year period, will facilitate separate initiatives led by associate professors Candice Waddell-Henowitch and Kathryn Chachula. According to a news release from the university, this marks the first instance of Brandon University participating in the MMSF research grant competition, underscoring its expanding role in health-focused research that directly benefits local communities.

Waddell-Henowitch’s project aims to address recovery from sexual violence in rural, remote, and northern Manitoba. It will involve collaboration with local service providers and employ a photo elicitation approach, inviting survivors to share their experiences through photographs and narratives. “Sexual violence is such an important issue, and this funding allows us to explore ways to better serve survivors across Manitoba,” Waddell-Henowitch stated. She emphasized the significance of the support from the MMSF and its partner, Blue Cross, for her team’s efforts.

The research is expected to lay the groundwork for future studies, including projects focused on assisting parents who have experienced sexual violence and evaluating educational tools designed to combat rape myths and encourage disclosures.

Chachula’s research centers on enhancing nurse wellness through the Psychological Body Armour course. This online program comprises ten modules designed to equip nurses with essential skills for building resilience, managing stress, and recovering from potentially traumatic events. Preliminary results from a pilot study involving nursing students highlighted significant improvements in resilience and reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD.

“Access to mental health supports varies across Manitoba, especially for nurses in rural and remote areas,” Chachula pointed out. “This funding allows us to support nurses who might be suffering in silence and to help ensure younger nurses remain in the profession. We want nurses to not just survive their shifts, but to thrive.” The course is flexible and self-paced, spanning over 12 weeks and focusing on personal strength, stress management, and proactive resilience skills.

If the study confirms the program’s effectiveness, Chachula anticipates that it could emerge as a vital resource within Manitoba’s healthcare system. Interested nurses can reach out to research assistant Caroline Mullins at [email protected] or complete an online enrollment form.

The grant funding is a testament to the strength of research at Brandon University and its relevance to addressing real-world challenges, according to the university’s vice-president for research and graduate studies, Bernadette Ardelli. “Both projects demonstrate how BU researchers are working alongside communities to generate knowledge that leads to tangible, positive change,” Ardelli remarked.

This investment in health research not only fosters academic growth but also aims to create significant impacts on the wellbeing of individuals within Manitoba’s communities.