Sara Ferwati is a PhD student in Epidemiology at the University of Toronto and a mental health epidemiologist focused on strengthening the public systems that support communities in crisis. Her doctoral research examines how suicide and mental health monitoring can be improved in northern and circumpolar regions, particularly in Nunavut, where she works alongside Inuit partners, clinicians, and decision-makers to build data systems that are both rigorous and responsive to community priorities. Originally trained in biochemistry and cancer biology, Sara shifted to public health in search of systems-level impact. Her doctoral work is closely informed by her role with the Government of Nunavut, where she contributes to the development of population-level mental health monitoring and policy-relevant evidence.
Beyond research, Sara brings a creative and community-driven lens to her work. She co-founded a national climate action nonprofit that mentored young leaders across Canada and continues to explore the intersections of environmental change, identity, and well-being through collaborative art projects that blend storytelling and visual art. Raised between Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, she brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work. Outside of research, she can often be found cooking for friends, boxing, or training for her next marathon.
Strengthening Suicide Monitoring and Response in Nunavut through Integrated Epidemiological Approaches
Nunavut faces one of the highest suicide burdens in the world, nearly ten times the Canadian average. Inuit make up the majority of the population and are disproportionately affected. Inuit leaders have called for Inuit-governed data and coordinated monitoring systems to support suicide prevention and life-promotion efforts. Yet most existing research is qualitative, epidemiologic studies remain limited, and no integrated dataset currently supports ongoing analysis of suicide patterns and related health and social factors. This study aims to strengthen suicide monitoring in Nunavut by linking health, social, and mortality data for the first time. This integrated approach allows quantitative analysis of suicide indicators, healthcare use, and related risk and protective factors, supporting culturally relevant and evidence-based prevention.
- Calculate suicide incidence rates and describe long-term trends in suicide mortality among Inuit in Nunavut, from 2000 to 2024. Although age- and sex-specific suicide rates are known, less is understood about detailed demographic, temporal, and contextual changes. This study will analyze these shifts and identify key trends using advanced methods.
- Assess healthcare utilization patterns and predictors in the two years preceding suicide, among Inuit who died by suicide between 2021 and 2024. This study will examine healthcare interactions to identify disparities in service use, gaps in care, and opportunities for earlier intervention.
- Identify subpopulations within the Nunavut population, defined by shared health and social factors, and assess their associations with suicide-related outcomes (self-harm, suicide attempts and death). Findings from this objective will highlight patterns of risk and protective factors to inform targeted, community-driven prevention efforts.
For the first time in Nunavut, this study will establish an integrated, population-level evidence resource on suicide. Applying advanced epidemiological methods in this setting is unprecedented and reflects Inuit mental health priorities. The research will generate policy-relevant evidence to guide Inuit-led prevention and life promotion, ultimately reducing the suicide burden among Inuit in Nunavut. It will also strengthen contextually relevant monitoring tools and surveillance capacity. Beyond Nunavut, this epidemiological framework can be adaptable to other Indigenous and circumpolar regions where fragmented data hinder prevention.
