Lab Director
I am a provisionally registered psychologist in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador. Furthermore, I am a contract professor of psychology at Grenfell Campus, MUN. My research focuses on understanding the unique psychological needs of rural Canadians. I am particularly interested in self-injurious behaviors and mental health care in rural settings.
Undergraduate Honours Student
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. My range of interests include understanding various disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, suicidology and nonsuicidal self-injury in rural versus non-rural communities, and how social media impacts mental health. After getting my undergraduate degree, my goals are to further my education by gaining a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology and to practice as a clinical psychologist. I look forward to working with Dr. Pritchard and expanding my knowledge.
Undergraduate Honours Student
My research interest’s extend into broad categories of child and youth mental health disorders. More specifically, looking into self-injury in children with conduct disorders. I am also interested in the etiology of ADHD in young girls and why it makes diagnoses difficult when compared to boys.
Former Honours Student
Update (2024): Speech Pathology (McMaster)
Former Honours Student
Update (2024): Medicine (MUN)
Former Honours Student
Lab members are, typically, undergraduate students at Grenfell Campus.
Interested in joining our team? Send me an email.
The Pritchard Lab focuses on furthering our understanding self-injurious behaviors, such as suicide, health and mental health disparities between rural and non-rural regions, and how the internet can impact mental health and disorders. The three major themes of our research are:
We are challenging current conceptualizations of 'rural'.
Our work focuses on the understanding the unique differences and nuances of rural regions across Canada and their implications for health care.
Furthermore, we are trying to understanding the protective and risk factors for suicide in rural Canada, namely Newfoundland and Labrador.Our theory driven research aims to better our understanding of who has suicidal thoughts or engages in suicidal behaviors, when they occur, under which circumstances or contexts, and during which periods of development.
Additionally, we hope to involve community members and those with lived experience, whose perspectives are invaluable, in the research process.
The internet can be a useful tool to provide knowledge, foster social connection, and receive formal treatments related to suicide. Our research attempts to clarify the potential risks and benefits of going online for self-injury activity.
Experts in the field acknowledge that the internet is a 'double-edged sword'. Our research hopes to build on current knowledge. For example, does hearing stories about others who have had similar experiences with suicide reduce or worsen users' own suicidal ideations?
Note: Works in progress available upon request. * Indicates a supervised honours student.