Dr. Hallie Coltin (pediatric oncologist, clinician-scientist) and researcher and psychologist Prof. Leandra Desjardins have been awarded a $522,150 grant over three years to lead a research project on the mental health of fathers of children with cancer, a population that remains largely understudied.

An Overlooked Reality

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact extends far beyond the illness itself. Parents must cope with treatments, uncertainty, major disruptions to daily life, and the fear of what the future may hold for their child. Yet while the psychological needs of children and mothers have been the focus of numerous studies, the needs of fathers remain largely unexplored.

“Fathers play an essential role throughout their child’s care journey, yet their experiences are often absent from research. Gaining a better understanding of the challenges they face is an important step toward providing support that meets their needs,” said Dr. Coltin.

A Study Designed With Fathers

The project was developed in partnership with fathers whose children have been diagnosed with cancer, as well as community organizations and patient representatives. This collaborative approach helped identify the issues considered most important by those directly affected and brought together a multidisciplinary team from the Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte‑Justine, Université de Montréal, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

The study will include two complementary projects. The first will involve analyzing administrative health data from more than 9,600 Quebec fathers whose child has been diagnosed with cancer. The researchers will examine, among other outcomes, hospital visits related to mental health conditions and deaths by suicide and compare these findings with those observed among fathers in the general population.

The second project will consist of a province-wide survey of fathers of children with cancer across Quebec. The survey will provide a more detailed understanding of their experiences by assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, substance use, and anger. The team will also seek to identify factors associated with increased psychological vulnerability in order to better understand which fathers may be at greatest risk.

Understanding More to Do More

The findings will help address a significant knowledge gap in pediatric cancer research. They will contribute to a better recognition of the psychological distress experienced by fathers, inform the development of tailored resources, and support the delivery of appropriate services.

“Behind every child with cancer is an entire family that is adapting, worrying, and moving forward one day at a time. By giving greater attention to fathers’ experiences, we hope to contribute to more appropriate support for all families affected by the disease,” concluded Leandra Desjardins.