SACKVILLE, NB — Dr. Ardath Whynacht, associate sociology professor; director of the health studies program, has been awarded an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support her research on crisis response systems. The project, titled States of Emergency: Exploring Relations of Care & Solidarity in Volunteer-Driven Crisis Response Systems, will be funded over five years with a total grant amount of $85,874.

Dr. Whynacht’s research will explore the mental health impacts of civilian and volunteer first responder work, with attention to the role of care and solidarity on public health and wellbeing in times of crisis. Her work aims to deepen our understanding of the role that civilian first responders play in shaping our experiences of care and safety in everyday life. In addition to this grant, Whynacht is a co-applicant on another SSHRC-funded project, led by Dr. Natalie Kouri-Towe of Concordia University. The project, Transformative Encounters: Gender and Sexuality Pedagogies in Canada, has received $327,938 in funding over five years. Whynacht represents Mount Allison as part of the research team, which includes colleagues from other universities. The project aims to investigate the intersections of gender and sexuality in educational settings, with a specific focus on transformative learning experiences in Canada. 

Whynacht is grateful to focus on the importance of pedagogy and mobilize her expertise on transformative justice with the Transformative Encounters Project, she expressed excitement and a deep sense of commitment to her upcoming research with civilian first responders along the Atlantic coast. An extension of her current research on moral injury and occupational harm in frontline care and protection work, this new SSHRC-funded project with civilian first responders will allow her to tell a more complex story about the relationship between crises, care, and mutual aid in rural and other under-served communities along the coast. “I am so grateful that this project was supported by SSHRC. My community, and those around me, have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, housing and opioid crises, fires, and floods. And in our worst moments, civilian first responders, volunteers and networks of neighbours have shown up when we needed them. This research will shine a spotlight on civilian first responders and provide preliminary data to understand the role they play in shaping public mental health during large and small-scale disasters."  Say Whynacht. 

"We are proud of Dr. Whynacht's accomplishment and look forward to seeing the impact of her research on how we respond to emergencies," said Dr. Richard Isnor, Provost and VP of Academic and Research of Mount Allison University "Her work is a vital contribution to the growing field of crisis response and volunteerism." 

Both newly supported projects underscore Whynacht’s commitment to exploring social and structural dimensions of mental health and public safety and her ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary research that bridges institutions and disciplines.