Purpose of the TAY Cohort Study

The TAY Cohort Study aims to better understand how certain mental health symptoms can develop, who is at an increased likelihood of developing certain mental health challenges, and how we can better support young people.

Funded by the CAMH Discovery Fund for a study period of 6 years, this longitudinal cohort study will follow 1500 youth ages 11-24, who are currently accessing mental health services within the Child, Youth, and Emerging Adult Program (CYEAP) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and currently live in Ontario. Over the course of the study, each participant has the opportunity to participate in different activities that look at our biological (i.e., brain structure, heart rhythms), clinical, cognitive, social and family-based data. This information will be used to build a thorough, multi-scale picture of the whole individual from genes to brain, behaviour and community.

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Study Timeline

Youth participants are invited to sessions every 6 months for up to 5 years. There are five groups of activities that make up the study. Participants will complete different activities at each session depending on the timepoint and what they are comfortable participating in.

 
 

Image description: Infographic detailing the different activities that make up the study over the time period of 5 years. 

  1. Baseline (aka month 0) involves interviews, questions, iPad games, Bio samples and brain scans for a total of 5.5 hours of your time.

  2. Month 6 involves iPad games, questions and body measurements for a total of 3 hours of your time. Month 12 involves bio samples, questions and brain scans for a total of 3 hours of your time.

  3. Month 8 involves body measurements and questions for a total of 0.5 hours of your time.

  4. Month 24 involves bio samples, iPad games, interviews, questions and brain scans for a total of 5 hours of your time.

  5. Month 30 involves iPad games, body measurements and questions for a total of 2.5 hours of your time.

  6. Month 36 involves bio samples, questions and brain scans for a total of 3 hours of your time.

  7. Month 48 involves bio samples, iPad games, interviews, questions and brain scans for a a total of 5.5 hours of your time.

  8. Month 42 involves body measurements and questions for a total of 0.5 hours of your time.

  9. Month 54 involves iPad games, body measurements and questions for a total of 2.5 hours of your time.

  10. Month 60 involves bio samples, questions and brain scans for a total of 3 hours of your time.