WHERE WE ARE…
The CORE is located on Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, BC and is under the direction of Dr. Lesley Lutes. The CORE was funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, and the Frank C. Diener Foundation.
2024 Researcher of the Year (Health)
WHAT WE DO…
The CORE is focused on developing evidence-based mental/behavioural interventions to improve health outcomes, and translating this knowledge to inform policy change.
INTEGRATED PRIMARY CARE
We are interested in tailoring mental/behavioural health interventions for delivery in primary care to afford better access to evidence-based psychological care. We examine factors such as mental/physical health outcomes, patient/provider satisfaction, clinician training, and program evaluation.
Advocacy
The CORE lab is passionate about advocating to the government for accessible, equitable, and comprehensive psychological care for those living within and outside of British Columbia. Specifically, we advocate for psychologists to be integrated into the provincial primary care system in order for people to receive timely, accessible, evidence-based care delivered by mental health specialists who can assess, diagnose, treat, and evaluate patient outcomes.
Behavioural Interventions
Small Changes is a behavioural weight management intervention designed to promote healthy, sustainable weight loss in individuals with overweight or obesity, and has been adapted to be effective in chronic health populations such as those with atrial fibrillation and psoriatic arthritis. The ENHANCE program is a behavioural intervention that uses positive psychology to improve subjective well-being, and has also been adapted to work in the context of COVID-19.
Emergency Department Program Evaluation
In partnership with Interior Health and CMHA, the CORE lab is currently conducting a program evaluation regarding the suicide and mental heath screening protocols within 9 emergency departments (EDs) within the Interior Health region. Specifically, we are looking the screening, discharge, and follow-up care for patients who entered the ED in acute mental health crisis.
ENHANCE Program
The ENHANCE Program (Enduring happiness and continued self-development) is designed to teach social skills, ways of thinking, and understanding one’s own values and strengths as a means of increasing life satisfaction, meaning, and enjoyment of life, as well as reducing stress and depression.
Recently, the program was adapted for improving individuals health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.