Douglas Mental Health Institute

What Douglas Mental Health Institute does

Douglas Mental Health University Institute (Institut universitaire en santé mentale Douglas) is a public psychiatric hospital and mental health research institute founded in 1881, located in the borough of Verdun in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It operates as part of CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île de Montréal under Quebec's public healthcare system, serving local populations in the Sud-Ouest-Verdun and Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle territories while providing specialized regional and provincial services. The Institute holds a statutory designation as a Mental Health University Institute under Quebec's Act Respecting Health Services and Social Services and has been a World Health Organization Collaboration Centre since 1982. Its three integrated missions span clinical care (child, adult, and geriatric psychiatry; eating disorders; PEPP-Montréal early psychosis intervention; psychiatric emergency), education (McGill University-affiliated training programs including the Integrated Program in Neuroscience with 300+ graduate students), and translational research (Douglas Research Centre, Charles Cahn Library with ~12,000 documents).

The Institute's core technology assets center on the D3SM (Douglas Data and Digital Science for Mental Health) initiative, which bundles digital therapeutics (HoryzonsCA for psychotic disorder relapse prevention, Remote RC2S using digital avatars for social cognition, iCogCA/E-Cog for cognitive health in psychosis, VR-CBT Virtual Reality therapy co-developed with Inuit communities, SPARX gamified therapy for youth), research infrastructure (OpenDataCapture, DataBank, Neurobagel for federated health data discovery), and the TAKECARE remote monitoring platform built with Greybox Solutions. It also operates Project ECHO as Quebec's provincial telementoring orchestrator and Superhub (one of 41 globally), and runs the new Douglas Cognitive Health and Prevention Clinic (Quebec's first precision medicine dementia prevention clinic, backed by Manulife Canada). The Institute is led by Dr. Gustavo Turecki as Chief of Psychiatry and Scientific Director.

The Institute's business model is primarily government-funded through Quebec's universal healthcare system with no direct patient billing for clinical services, supplemented by competitive research grants (~$5.8M CIHR Spring 2026 awards, ~$2M CIHR 2025), Douglas Foundation donations, and targeted corporate partnerships (notably Manulife's $1M over four years). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are bifurcated between local Quebec residents receiving general mental health care and Quebec-wide populations accessing specialized regional mandates (eating disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders), with a tertiary segment of healthcare professionals trained via ECHO telementoring and McGill-affiliated academic programs.

Name

Douglas Mental Health Institute

Legal name

Institut universitaire en santé mentale Douglas

Website

https://douglas.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Douglas Mental Health University Institute is a public psychiatric hospital and research center in Montreal, Quebec, providing integrated mental health care, digital therapeutics, and translational research across the lifespan under Quebec's universal healthcare system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Psychiatric Hospital and Mental Health Services

NAICS

Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (622210), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Behavioral Health Integration Platforms (HLALABAE), Psychiatry & Medication Management (EDALAFAC), Psychiatry & Medication Management Platforms (HLALAEAB)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Psychiatric hospital care
• Mental health research
• Clinical training programs
• Digital therapeutics platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Healthcare Funding: As a public healthcare institution under Quebec's healthcare system, the Institute receives government funding through the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal to provide mental health services to the population.
2. Research Grants: Competitive research funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and other funding agencies supporting mental health research programs. Douglas researchers secured nearly $5.8M in CIHR Spring 2026 grants and nearly $2M in 2025 competitions.
3. Donations and Foundation Support: The Douglas Foundation raises funds to support research, clinical care, and community initiatives. Donations fund events, programs, and research activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Douglas Mental Health Institute is a public psychiatric university hospital that delivers specialized mental health care, conducts translational research, and trains healthcare professionals. It operates clinical programs across child, adult, and geriatric psychiatry, runs digital therapeutics platforms under its D3SM initiative, and serves as the provincial orchestrator for Project ECHO telementoring in mental health, addictions, and homelessness.

Product overview

The Douglas Mental Health University Institute is a mental health research and healthcare institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of clinical services, digital health platforms, and educational programs. Its core offerings include specialized clinical services (eating disorders clinic, PEPP-Montréal psychosis prevention program, dementia prevention clinic), the D3SM digital health initiative featuring therapeutic platforms (HoryzonsCA, Remote RC2S, VR-CBT, SPARX) and research infrastructure (OpenDataCapture, DataBank, Neurobagel), Project ECHO telementoring as provincial orchestrator, and the TAKECARE remote monitoring platform developed with Greybox Solutions. The institute also provides education through McGill University partnerships, the Charles Cahn Library, and technology assessment services. The D3SM 2.0 phase launched in March 2026 expands VR development and secondary use of clinic-administrative data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Douglas Research Centre: Research center creating innovative and integrated research programs on mental disorders, from gene testing to social change
• Douglas Foundation
• D3SM (Douglas Data and Digital Science for Mental Health)
• Project ECHO

Products and services

• Douglas Cognitive Health and Prevention Clinic powered by Manulife Quebec's first precision medicine dementia prevention clinic providing personalized, evidence-based prevention plans for adults aged 40 and older, focusing on identifying and addressing modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline. Funded by a $1 million four-year investment from Manulife Canada.
• D3SM (Douglas Data and Digital Science for Mental Health) A comprehensive initiative bridging data science and clinical care in mental health that includes digital therapeutic platforms, VR therapy tools, and research infrastructure for translational digital mental health programs.
• HoryzonsCA A digital platform supporting recovery and preventing relapse in psychotic disorders, providing personalized mental health care tools through text-based content delivery.
• Remote RC2S Digital avatars supporting social cognitive impairments in patients with mental health conditions through interactive digital therapeutic experiences.
• VR-CBT (Virtual Reality Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Culturally sensitive Virtual Reality Cognitive Behavioral Therapy developed with Inuit communities in Quebec for treating various psychological disorders through immersive video-based environments.
• SPARX Evidence-based serious games designed to improve youth mental health through gamified therapeutic interventions for adolescents and young people.
• OpenDataCapture A data capture and management platform supporting the D3SM initiative's research data infrastructure for mental health research programs.
• DataBank A secure data sharing platform enabling the institute to share research data within the D3SM initiative and across distributed health research systems.
• Neurobagel A federated health data discovery tool enabling cross-institutional data sharing and discovery across distributed health research systems.
• Project ECHO Telementoring An innovative online framework for knowledge sharing between healthcare professionals using teleconferencing and case-based learning, with multiple programs covering mental health, addictions, homelessness, eating disorders, and more. The Institute serves as provincial orchestrator and Superhub for Quebec.
• TAKECARE Remote Monitoring Platform A remote patient monitoring platform adapted for individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis, developed in collaboration with Greybox Solutions. Provides measurement-based care with dynamic, personalized follow-up.
• Eating Disorders Outpatient Clinic Specialized outpatient services for Quebec residents aged 18 and over with severe eating disorders, offering assessments, mental health education, nutritional counselling, pharmacotherapy, and support for loved ones.
• PEPP-Montréal (Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses) Specialized early intervention program for individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis, providing early detection and treatment to prevent disorder progression.
• Clinical Training Programs Medical education and training programs including clinical internships, medical education, and training for healthcare professionals across all medical disciplines in partnership with McGill University.
• Charles Cahn Library A specialized library housing nearly 12,000 documents including a unique collection specializing in mental health and psychiatry, providing access to databases and renowned journals in health and social services.
• Technology and Intervention Assessment Services Assesses technologies and intervention methods from promising new approaches to well-established practices, providing reports, customized support, and training to maximize clinical benefits and healthcare network effectiveness.

Quantifiable outcome

• First psychiatric facility in Canada to be accredited by Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (1967)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Canada's largest academic mental health and addiction hospital, located in Toronto, with a similar integrated care-research-education mandate and University of Toronto affiliation; directly comparable as a Canadian mental health university institute.
• Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre: Academic psychiatric hospital in Ottawa affiliated with the University of Ottawa, providing specialized mental health care, research, and teaching; closely comparable in mission, scope, and public-system ownership.
• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences: Public academic psychiatric hospital in Ontario providing specialized mental health services, research, and education; comparable as a publicly funded, research-active mental health university hospital.
• Institut national de psychiatrie légale Philippe-Pinel: Quebec psychiatric hospital specialized in forensic psychiatry; shares the same provincial health system (Quebec), academic mission, and public funding model as Douglas.
• Providence Care: Academic health care provider in Kingston, Ontario, offering mental health, rehabilitation, and complex care with strong research and teaching mandates affiliated with Queen's University; directly comparable as a publicly funded academic mental health provider.

Regional players

• BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services: Provincial agency coordinating specialized mental health and substance use services in British Columbia; comparable as a Canadian publicly funded mental health services network with research and education mandates, serving a different province.

Broad incumbents

• McGill University Health Centre (MUHC): Major Montreal academic health network affiliated with McGill University that shares the same parent CIUSSS and university affiliation with Douglas; comparable as a broad incumbent providing overlapping specialty services and research infrastructure.
• Headspace Health: Large commercial digital mental health platform combining teletherapy, coaching, and self-guided content; comparable as a scaled digital mental health provider competing for the same payer, employer, and patient demand that Douglas targets through D3SM.

Emerging players

• Lyra Health: High-growth digital mental health platform delivering employer-sponsored teletherapy and coaching; comparable as a privately funded mental health platform pursuing employer/payer channels analogous to Douglas's Manulife partnership and ECHO model.
• Big Health: Digital therapeutics company offering evidence-based mental health solutions (e.g., Sleepio) to payers and health systems; comparable as a digital therapeutics player pursuing the same payer-and-evidence-based commercialization path that Douglas's D3SM initiative is beginning to explore.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DouglasInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstitutDouglas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/douglas-mental-health-university-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/douglasmentalhealth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Douglas Mental Health Institute