The Douglas Hospital is proud to announce the official opening of the McGill Group for Suicide Studies (MGSS), a new and completely integrated research facility on suicide.

Headed by Gustavo Turecki, MD, PhD, a world-class psychiatric geneticist, the MGSS is the latest addition to the Hospital’s Research Centre and the only one of its kind in Canada.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Suicide What makes the MGSS so unique is its multidisciplinary approach to suicide. “Our researchers study the biological, behavioural, clinical and social risk factors for suicide”, says Turecki. “Generally, research projects

on suicide look only at social variables”, says Turecki. “But more and more evidence suggests that biological factors may also predispose people to display suicidal behaviour. In that respect, our MGSS studies are producing some interesting findings”, reveals Turecki.

The MGSS owns one of the world’s largest collection of DNA samples from individuals who have committed suicide, as well as a brain bank dedicated solely to research on suicide. It is also fully equipped with a laboratory for molecular genetic studies. From the clinical aspect, the MGSS has expertise in psychological autopsies -- a technique used to obtain clinical information from suicide victims -- including personality traits,as well as family and psychosocial assessments.

“The vast majority of people who commit suicide are affected by a mental illness”, says Turecki. In Canada, in 1998, suicide was the leading cause of death among men younger than 45, and among women, aged 30 - 34.

Moreover, one-third of the country’s suicides occur in Quebec. “With our research projects, we hope to better understand the different components that have led people to end their lives, and help those who could potentially consider committing suicide, and prevent them from doing it”, says Turecki.

The MGSS is composed of 5 independent investigators and over 20 research associates, including a histopathologist, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, laboratory technicians and clinical interviewers. In addition, there are 14 graduate students being trained at MGSS.

Dr. Turecki has been working at the Douglas Hospital for three years as an attending psychiatrist and investigator. He is an assistant professor at McGill University with the Departments of Psychiatry, Human Genetics, and Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Affiliated with McGill University and the World Health Organization, the Douglas Hospital’s Research Centre is one of the most important mental health facilities in the country, where more than 60 scientists and clinical researchers, and more than 100 students, work to better understand the causes of mental illness.
 

Information

Florence Meney
Media Relation
Communications and public affairs
Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell.: 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca