Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work | University of Toronto

Gym supplements may be causing dangerous sleep loss among young adults Single serving of pre-workout supplement can contain several times more caffeine than standard cup of coffee

A new study by Prof, Kyle Ganson finds that teenage and young adult gym goers who used pre-workout supplements were more than twice as likely to experience severely reduced sleep compared to their peers:
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...

U of T Giving Day. Be part of something bigger. March 26 is U of T Giving Day! Donate to #UofT's 2026 equity initiatives between March 1 and March 26 to have your gift matched.

March 26 is #UofTGivingDay! Give to the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work between March 1 to March 26 and your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000 while matching funds last!

Donate today: engage.utoronto.ca/site/SPageSe...

Study links binge drinking over 50 to 23% higher mortality risk A Canadian study has linked binge drinking at age 50 and above to an increased mortality risk of 23% compared to the participants who did not binge drink in the year before. The study followed 12...

A new study led by PhD student Andie MacNeil and co-authored by PhD candidate Yu Lung and Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson links binge drinking over 50 to 23% higher mortality risk: www.nutritioninsight.com/news/bingedr...

The number of Ontarians over 80 is about to surge. Advocates say the Ford government needs a strategy With more than 1.5 million octogenarian-plus Ontarians expected by 2041, some say the province needs a master plan for growing old.

The expectation that more than 1.5 million Ontarians will be over 80 by 2041 means the province needs a master plan for growing old, says Laura Tamblyn Watts: www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

Tamblyn Watts is CEO of CanAge and an Assistant Professor (Status Only) & Sessional Lecturer at FIFSW.

Here's what parents need to know about 'looksmaxxing' | CBC Radio Here’s what parents and other concerned adults need to know about looksmaxxing, and how to talk about it with youth.

#FIFSW Prof. Kyle Gansonm — whose research focuses on muscle dysmorphia among boys and young men — shares early insights from his analysis of interviews with looksmaxxers:
www.cbc.ca/radio/frontb...

screen shot of online journal article. Title: Examining Policy Conditions Influencing the Adoption of Virtual Primary Care: A Comparative Analysis of Ontario and British Columbia

A new article published in the journal Health Reform Observer (and led by recent MSW grad Stefaniia Martsynkevych) examines policy conditions influencing the adoption of virtual primary care in Ontario and British Columbia.

Read more here: mulpress.mcmaster.ca/hro-ors/arti...

Esengo (“Joy”): Methods for Developing a Song and Animated Music Video for Reducing Stigma With Sex Professionals in Pointe-Noire, Congo - Carmen H. Logie, Sarah Van Borek, David Puvaneyshwaran, Frann... Song-making is a powerful tool with the potential to harness cultural knowledge to reduce stigma and support community-led advocacy. HIV prevalence (8.1%) among...

excited to share new article on developing song and music video approaches to reduce stigma with sex professionals in Congo Republic @uoft-fifsw.bsky.social @sdgsatuoft.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/....

Gender Dysphoria and the Class Divide of Transgender Medicine Join trans studies luminary Jules Gill-Peterson for a masks-encouraged lecture on the factors which shape modern trans medicine.

March 4: Join Dr. Jules Gill-Peterson, Associate Prof. of History, Johns Hopkins University for a talk on the factors that shape modern trans medicine. Organized by the LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory, w/ support from #UofT's Dept. of History and the WGSI: www.eventbrite.ca/e/gender-dys...

Screen shot of publication heading: "Learning from patients about their experiences with early adoption of virtual care appointments in primary care in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

What do patients think of virtual primary care appointments? A new study, led by Associate Professor Rachelle Ashcroft, takes a look at the pros and cons — and makes recommendations for improving virtual care via phone and online video in the future: bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjo...

Study finds psychosis rates are rising among young people in Ontario More young people are being diagnosed with psychosis and schizophrenia and new data shows the numbers are climbing in Ontario. Catalina Gillies spoke with researchers who say recognizing the signs ear...

City News talks to #FIFSW Prof. Amar Ghelani about the rising rates of psychosis among youth: toronto.citynews.ca/video/2026/0...

Tin D. Vo: Heated Rivalry And Representation - January 26, 2026 | The Last Show with David Cooper YouTube video by The Last Show with David Cooper

The Last Show with David Cooper talks to Assistant Professor Tin Vo about queer inclusion and representation on the TV show Heated Rivalry.

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8jW...

#HeatedRivalry #UofT #SocialWork #FIFSW

screen shot of online interview between Harry Taylor and podcast host Nick Winnenberg

“Is Social Isolation as Dangerous as Smoking?” Prof. Harry Taylor — whose research focuses on social isolation and loneliness among older adult Black Americans — was recently a guest on The Curiosity Project Podcast, to help answer that question: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q55d...

CLSAFindings💡: Reclaiming wellness: Key factors in restoring optimal well-being in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Cc: @uoft-fifsw.bsky.social @lifecourseuoft.bsky.social

🔗: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40991576/

PhD candidate Xiang (Olivia) Li, right, in the lab with Molly Shoichet, left

#UofT ranked 1st in Canada, among top 30 globally, in all subjects: Times Higher Education 🍁 uoft.me/c7J

CTV National News: Free seniors class focusing on fitness connects community members A new fitness class targets those who may have mobility issues while providing a much-needed emotional connection between the elderly. Garrett Barry reports.

Prof. Esme Fuller-Thomson spoke to CTV about healthy aging in light of a new Statistics Canada report, which found that despite living longer, Canadian's are spending more years in poor health:
www.ctvnews.ca/video/2026/0...

Juggling two worlds: a new #UofT study led by FIFSW graduate Maya A. Stern and colleagues (including Prof. Esme Fuller-Thomson) reveals the emotional, physical, and financial toll on family caregivers and calls for caregiver support as standard cancer care: www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

We are excited to present the FIFSW Alumni Thrive Series, a set of in-person sessions created exclusively for our alumni community focused on promoting self-care and professional sustainability for social work professionals: socialwork.utoronto.ca/event/fifsw-...

Latest piece on menstruation insecurity and HIV & STI prevention @uoft-fifsw.bsky.social @unuinweh.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com:5037/science/arti...

Congratulations to the #FIFSW PhD students who received RBC Graduate Fellowships in Applied Social Work Research this year! Visit our website to learn about their projects: socialwork.utoronto.ca/news/seven-p...

A cake with blown-out candles and the following words: Nothing to Celebrate: The Crisis of Youth Aging Out of Care.

The Senate Committee on Human Rights released a new report on the crisis facing youth aging out of government care, with 8 recommendations to drive systemic change, informed by expert witnesses, including #FIFSW Professor Barbara Fallon.

Read the report: sencanada.ca/en/info-page...

Janis Rotman Distinguished Lecture Series on Mental Wellness - Wednesday, November 12, 2025 YouTube video by Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

For those who may have missed it, a recording of #FIFSW's 2025 Janis Rotman Distinguished Lecture on Mental Wellness is now on FIFSW's YouTube channel. View Professor Ramona Alaggia's talk on building resilience with children, families, and communities: youtu.be/2qx1hS8TUmY?...

5 champions, 5 papers, 1 winner. Check out the "Battle of the Papers" where 5 scholars champion the one paper of the past academic year they feel every health professional educator must read. Read the papers and vote for your favourite by January 13th!

Vote here: centreforfacdev.ca/bper-reads/

Feminist City 6.0: What makes a caring city? Feminist City 6.0 When Monday January 12, 2026 5—6:15 p.m. ET Where Desautels Hall, 105 St. George St, Toronto, M5A 0L4 Join the School of Cities and the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) for Feminist City 6.0: What makes a caring city? Together, we’ll explore how cities can be redesigned to foster caring, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. Care is the foundation of our societies. From childcare to health care to elder care, everyone depends on care for themselves and their loved ones. The need for equitable access to care services continues to grow as populations age, women’s participation in the labour market increases, and challenges like the climate crisis threaten health and safety. At the same time, shifting work patterns and back-to-office mandates are changing how people navigate care responsibilities, commutes, and community life. High-quality care services not only support the well-being of care recipients but also open economic and social opportunities for caregivers. Caring communities are essential for building just, resilient, and flourishing cities—now and in the future. How can cities meet the demand for equitable, accessible care? How can we prepare urban systems to support care in a rapidly changing global economy? Answering these questions is critical for businesses, policymakers, civic organizations, developers, planners, and engaged citizens—because we all benefit from cities that are vibrant, inclusive, and built to care.

Speakers Heather McDonald became President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto in 2025, bringing over 25 years of leadership in social services. Formerly CEO of LOFT Community Services, she led major growth, mergers, and real estate expansion. Heather began her career in frontline service and holds an MSW and ICD.D designation. Recognized as a national changemaker, she is committed to building a more equitable, inclusive, and connected GTA through strategic partnerships and bold, community-driven solutions. Lin Fang is a Professor and the endowed Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health. She is also the Founder and Director of FIFSW’s Talk It Out Counseling Clinic. Heela Omarkhail is Vice President, Social Impact at The Daniels Corporation (Daniels), a leading Greater Toronto Area based builder-developer. She is responsible for strategic initiatives that look to ensure that the social, cultural and economic infrastructures of communities built by Daniels are as strong as the new buildings. Since 2009, Heela has been working on the revitalization of Regent Park in Toronto’s Downtown East. Nouman Ashraf is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream within the Organizational Behaviour area at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. He possesses a broad range of professional, academic and research interests, with a specialized focus on enabling inclusive and innovative practices within teams, organizations and boards. For the last decade and a half, he has held progressively senior roles at the University of Toronto, including most recently as the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at the Rotman School of Management. He is a recognized thought leader in governance and has taught thousands of directors in the national Rotman program on Not-for-Profit Governance in partnership with the Institute for Corporate Directors since its inception in 2007.

#IdeasAtWork

Feminist City 6.0: What makes a caring city?

Monday Jan 12, 2026

5pm-6:15pm ET at Desautels Hall, 105 St. George St, Toronto, M5A 0L4

h/t @uoft-fifsw.bsky.social @unitedwaygt.bsky.social @uoftcities.bsky.social @rotmanschool.bsky.social
schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/event/femini...

Young adolescent recommendations for advancing water, food, and sanitation security in Kenya: Qualitative insights Climate change and related extreme weather events (EWE) exacerbate resource insecurities that threaten youth wellbeing. We conducted participatory map…

Excited to share our new article on young adolescents insights into reducing water, food and sanitation insecurity in Kenya www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @uoft-fifsw.bsky.social @unuinweh.bsky.social @sshrc-crsh.canada.ca SSHRC PDG findings

White roses were placed to honour the lives of the 14 women killed at Montreal’s École Polytechnique in 1989.

#UofT marks National Day for Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women with a memorial at Ziibiing Pavilion as well as events hosted by U of T Engineering. uoft.me/c2E

‘Thank you all’: President Melanie A. Woodin releases first holiday message to the #UofT community 💙 uoft.me/holiday25

#FIFSW Professor Lin Fang is among the featured panelists in the event "FEMINIST CITY 6.0: What Makes a Caring City?" hosted by the School of Cities and the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE), January 12, 2026 from 5:00 to 6:15 PM. Register here: community.rotman.utoronto.ca/events/s/spe...

Pre-workout supplement use linked to dangerously short sleep in young people A new study from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Behaviors reveals that adolescents and young adults who use pre-workout dietary supplements, such as Bang!, Jack3D, and C4, are significantly more lik...

A new study led by Prof. Kyle Ganson reveals that adolescents and young adults who use pre-workout dietary supplements, such as Bang!, Jack3D, and C4, are significantly more likely to report dangerously short sleep durations:
www.news-medical.net/news/2025120...

Seniors head back to school with U of T students You're never too old to learn something new, and one class with students of all ages is proving just that.

As we near the end of the Fall semester, CityTV checks in with Prof. Raza Mirza's intergenerational classroom, and what the students of all ages have learned:
toronto.citynews.ca/video/2025/1...

A landmark report by the Centre for Research & Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims (The CRIB) puts national and regional firearm statistics in context and calls for a shift in how gun violence is understood and addressed: socialwork.utoronto.ca/news/report-...