Optimizing Regional Care Delivery Systems Targeting Adults with Heart Failure and Mental Health Interconnected Conditions: A Participatory Action Research Brain-Heart Dyad Project

The goal of the project is to improve care delivery models for individuals with heart failure who are at risk of, or experiencing, mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and stress, in two Ontario Health Team regions: Archipel and Great River. Patients with heart failure are at higher risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, and emotional distress, yet mental health is often overlooked in routine care.

As part of the second and third year of this project, we are recruiting site partners to support intervention testing and evaluation of the Heart Failure x Mental Health FRAME (Foundation, Recognition, Awareness, Management, Engagement) intervention. This web resource aims to support patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in improving the awareness, recognition, discussion, and management of mental health among individuals living with heart failure.

Brain-Heart Interconnectome, University of Ottawa (2024-27)

Project Lead: Krystal Kehoe MacLeod kmacleod@bruyere.org

Research Coordinator: Sarisha Philip sphilip@bruyere.org

2026 Research Assistant: Alixe Menard

2025 Research Assistant: Sophia Kara

2025 Research Volunteer: Ivan Lee

English www.brainhearthealth.ca/en

French www.brainhearthealth.ca/fr

Dewidar O, Abdi A, Sabri H, Dawit H, Philip S, Barbeau V, Benoit P, Antunes P, Jetté J, Assaouré J, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Skaff E, Seguin J, Archibald D, Welch V, Kehoe MacLeod K. (2026, Jan). Interventions to enhance early recognition and management of mental health symptoms in patients with cardiovascular disease: A rapid scoping review. CJC Open. 8(1):P82-92 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2025.10.002

Philip S, Dahroughe S, Auprix M-A, Aomreore A, Hosseini M, Archibald D, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Tanguay E, Bandk K, Welch V, Liu P, Jones K, Kehoe MacLeod K. (2025 Mar). Optimizing regional care delivery systems targeting adults with heart failure and mental health interconnected conditions: A participatory action research study protocol. BMJ Open. 15(11):e109113. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-109113.

Philip S, Kara S, Lee I, Valade R, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Gravel J, Herbert C, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Jette J, Liu P, Kehoe MacLeod K. (June 8-10, 2026). Co-designing a patient-facing mental health self-management guide for adults living with heart failure. Brain-Heart Interconnectome State of the Science Summit. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Menard A, Houston A, Philip S, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Gravel J, Herbert C, Jette J, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Liu P, Welch V, Kehoe MacLeod K. (June 8-10, 2026). Operationalizing a research coalition for brain-heart conditions: Lessons from a participatory action research methods paper. Brain-Heart Interconnectome State of the Science Summit. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Houston A, Philip S, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Gravel J, Herbert C, Jetté J, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Liu P, Welch V, Kehoe MacLeod K. (June 8-10, 2026). Integrating mental health well-being into heart failure care: Baseline results from a hybrid type 1 pretest-posttest feasibility study of the FRAME intervention. Brain-Heart Interconnectome State of the Science Summit. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Philip S, Valade R, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Gravel J, Herbert C, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Jetté J, Liu P, Welch V. (November 27, 2025). Re-FRAMEing discussions about mental health with heart failure patients: A participatory action research project. Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Kara S, Philip S, Lee I, Valade R, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Gravel J, Herbert C, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Jetté J, Liu P, Welch V, Kehoe MacLeod K. (November 27, 2025). Co-designing a patient-facing mental health Self-management guide for older adults living with heart failure. Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Kara S, Philip S, Lee I, Valade R, Antunes P, Archibald D, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Jetté J, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Tanguay E, Liu P, Welch V, Kehoe MacLeod K. (Oct 24-26, 2025). Activity Maps for Brain-Heart Health: Co-designing a Self-management Tool for Older Adults with Heart Failure. Canadian Association of Gerontology 54th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting. Montréal, Québec. Poster presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Philip S, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Tanguay E, Jones K. (May 14-16, 2025). Leveraging a partnership of decisionmakers, patients, caregivers, and clinicians to co-design community-driven health initiatives to address brain-heart interconnected conditions. International Conference on Integrated Care. Lisbon, Portugal. Oral presentation.

Valade R, Philip S, Auprix M-A, Dahrouge S, Nana M, Antunes P, Archibald D, Assaouré J, Bandk K, Benoit P, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Tanguay E, Kehoe MacLeod K. (March 27, 2025). Comprendre les besoins de la communauté pour transformer le traitement des troubles neurologiques et cardiaques concomitants. Destination Recherche et Innovation Montfort 2025, Ottawa, Ontario. Oral presentation.

Philip S, Aomreore A, Hammond E, Dahrouge S, Bandk K, Archibald D, Auprix M, Antunes P, Assaouré J, Benoit P, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Tanguay E, Jones K, Kehoe MacLeod K. (November 28, 2024). Developing a toolkit for asset mapping health and social services: Identifying gaps and strengths in service accessibility for people with chronic conditions and their caregiver. Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Oral presentation and poster presentation.

Philip S, Auprix M, Dahrouge S, Antunes P, Aomreore A, Archibald D, Assaouré J, Bandk K, Benoit P, Plourde D, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Tanguay E, Jones K, Kehoe MacLeod K (November 28, 2024). Comprendre les besoins de la communauté pour transformer le traitement des troubles neurologiques et cardiaques concomitants. Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Philip S, Dahrouge S, Liu P, Saluja K, Welch V, Archibald D, Plourde D, Tanguay E, Roumeliotis P, Benoit P, Antunes P, Kamikazi N, Sabbagh R, Seguin J, Skaff E, Kehoe MacLeod K. (June 12-14). Optimizing Regional Care Delivery Systems Targeting Adults with Heart Failure and Mental Health Interconnected Conditions: A Participatory Action Research Brain-Heart Dyad Project. Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI) State of the Science Summit. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

(2024, Sept 26) Cogeco Community News, Improving Care for Adults with Heart Failure and Their Mental Well-Being (TV interview, Cornwall Ontario).

Setnyk, J. (2024, Oct 5). Seaway News, New Study Targets Heart Failure and Mental Health Care. https://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/local/new-study-targets-heart-failure-and-mental-health-care/