The CAMH Simulation Centre is North America's first simulation centre focused on teaching, research and quality improvement at all levels of mental health education. Simulation is an innovative education modality that replicates real-life situations so learners can practice in a controlled environment.
The simulation team is made up of simulation and interprofessional educators, researchers, and evaluators working to enhance the quality of mental health care through education. We specialize in mental health simulation-based education, which uses simulated participants (actors), high-fidelity manikins, and virtual reality to deliver scenarios that realistically simulate the world of mental health care.
What We Offer
Our centre has 5,500 square feet of open, flexible simulation space that can be mocked up to recreate the diverse environments where mental health care is delivered. We offer a variety of mental health trainings to healthcare professional learners, including trauma-informed de-escalation, suicide and violence risk assessment, opioid overdose response, acute and physical healthcare in psychiatry, as well as faculty development for simulation facilitators and debriefers. Our simulations are a part of a rigorous program of research and evaluation.
Our Mission
The mission of the CAMH Simulation Centre is to improve patient safety and quality of care through:
- Trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible programs grounded in co-production and co-delivery with patients and families
- Safe learning environments that support continuous improvement and capacity building
- Ground-breaking innovation and research.
Virtual Reality (VR) suicide risk assessment training
The CAMH Simulation Centre has designed and developed an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) suicide risk assessment training. This training offers participants the opportunity to complete a suicide risk assessment with two different avatar patients.
Sim with Dr. Petal Abdool and Stephanie Sliekers: A Quick Takes Podcast
In this episode of Quick Takes, you’ll hear more about:
- the new Simulation Centre at CAMH
- VR courses already developed for suicide assessment
- another VR project in the works for opioid overdose treatment
- and the aspirations of the Centre to implement AI in future training.