Jacquie Gahagan

(They/Them)

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Heart cut-outs seen in a flower bed at a National Indigenous People’s Day event with youth from Future Paths Network, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting youth who are Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in their transition out of the foster care system in Ottawa, on June 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

The crisis of youth aging out of care is why Canada needs a children and youth commissioner

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dale Kirby, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Dr. Melanie M. Doucet, McGill University, and Mary Rita Holland, Mount Saint Vincent University

Canada remains one of the few high-income countries without a national oversight body focused on the well-being of children and youth.
Providing access to post-secondary education costs an average of $85,000 to $100,000 over four years, while incarcerating a single youth can cost $300,000 to $500,000 per year. (Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash)

Why bolstering post‑secondary education for former youth in care is a wise investment

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dale Kirby, Memorial University of Newfoundland; El Jones, Mount Saint Vincent University, and Kristyn Anderson, Dalhousie University

Without sustained support for education, housing and mental health, many former youth in care become involved in the criminal justice system.
A lack of comprehensive data exists pertaining to former youth in care, and this needs to change. (Shutterstock)

How a failure to support youth who were once in care may be fuelling unemployment

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dale Kirby, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Margaret Robinson, Dalhousie University, and Rasnat Chowdhury, University of Toronto

Former youth in care deserve equitable educational opportunities. Better longitudinal data is needed around how youth and adults successfully transition to and complete post-secondary education.
Chronic pain is as much a social issue as a medical issue, which can be addressed with collective action. (Shutterstock)

Prioritizing pain: 5 ways to move beyond managing chronic pain

Shannan M. Grant, Mount Saint Vincent University; Ellen McGarity-Shipley, Dalhousie University; Hayam Bakour, Saint Mary’s University; Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University, and Mary Lynch, Dalhousie University

While many people living with chronic pain require medication, there is growing interest in non-pharmacological approaches that seek not only to treat and manage pain, but also to prevent it.
People who have lived experience in child welfare systems have higher rates of homelessness. A homeless tent is seen in a park in Saint-Jerome, Que. on Jan. 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Canada is falling behind other countries in meeting the needs of former youth in care

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dale Kirby, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Kristyn Anderson, Dalhousie University, and Steven Smith, Saint Mary’s University

Canada needs to focus on tracking, monitoring and evaluating the economic, health and social outcomes of former youth in care, especially as they transition from government care.
Research shows women are at higher risk for burnout and psychological, emotional and physical stress in the workplace in comparison to their male counterparts. (Shutterstock)

Stop breaking women’s hearts at work: 7 ways to make workplaces better for cardiovascular health

Shannan M. Grant, Mount Saint Vincent University; Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dalhousie University; Dayna Lee-Baggley, Dalhousie University; Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Jessica Mannette, Saint Mary’s University, and Leigh-Ann MacFarlane, Mount Saint Vincent University

Acknowledging that factors like the built environment, social and health systems, and outdated policies are the problems — rather than people — is a step towards healthier and safer workplaces.
Women continue to experience disparities in treatment and prevention of heart disease in comparison with other Canadians. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Dying to be seen: Why women’s risk for heart disease and stroke is still higher than men’s in Canada

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University and Shannan M. Grant, Mount Saint Vincent University

Women are often under-diagnosed and under-treated for heart disease and may be unaware of their specific risk factors. Clinical and research practices need to reflect the diversity of women in Canada.
In Canada, just over 10 per cent of households live in housing that is unaffordable, unsuitable or inadequate, and they cannot afford alternative housing in their community. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s National Housing Strategy: Is it really addressing homelessness and affordability?

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University and Ren Thomas, Dalhousie University

Halfway through its 10-year mandate to address issues like affordability and homelessness, the National Housing Strategy is providing little benefit for the vast majority of vulnerable households.
Children and youth in care often have complex health and social issues, but they often struggle to access comprehensive health care. (Shutterstock)

We know better, so why aren’t we doing better in supporting the health of children and youth in care?

Kristyn Anderson, Dalhousie University; Alyson Holland, Dalhousie University; Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Steven Smith, Saint Mary’s University; Tania Wong, Dalhousie University, and Tonya Grant, Dalhousie University

Children and youth in care are more likely to have experienced trauma that can affect future health. A comprehensive, trauma-informed health strategy for these children and youth is long overdue.
The ‘othering’ of women through misogyny, racism and sexism in scholarship has had, and continues to have, serious consequences on women’s lives. (Shutterstock)

Why women’s studies programs in Canada are more important than ever

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Adwoa Onuora, Mount Saint Vincent University, and Tegan Zimmerman, Mount Saint Vincent University

Women’s studies programs should continue to be supported to ensure the fight for women’s rights are not reversed or forgotten.
In-depth interviews with former youth in care described barriers and challenges to attending post-secondary education once they received a tuition waiver. (Shutterstock)

Health of former youth in care could be bolstered by stronger tuition waiver programs

Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Dale Kirby, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Krista C Ritchie, Mount Saint Vincent University, and Kristyn Anderson, Dalhousie University

To understand how tuition waivers and associated supports can help former youth in care complete post-secondary education and positively affect their health, evidence-based practices are needed.
Both sex and gender analysis are crucial to health research to enable access to appropriate health information, diagnoses and care for gender-diverse populations. (Shutterstock)

The difference between sex and gender, and why both matter in health research

Jacquie Gahagan, Dalhousie University

Sex is not gender but research continues to treat these as the same concept, with potentially damaging consequences for health studies, health policies and health programs.

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