Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, Director


Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos is Nehiyaw (Cree) and English, belonging to the Fisher River Cree Nation (Ochekwi-Sipi; Treaty 5). Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty 1 territory), he now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

He’s a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Indigenous Health and Social Policy at the University of Toronto. At the university, he teaches seminars on grief, suicide prevention, and disability justice. He also heads the Critical Health and Social Action Lab, a center funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, dedicated to Indigenous community-led research for mental health, housing, and environmental justice.

As the Canada Research Chair in Critical Studies in Indigenous Health and Social Action on Suicide, his research focuses on understanding relational, social and environmental dimensions of suicide, as well as upstream approaches to suicide prevention in Indigenous community contexts. He is also the theme lead for the Indigenous suicide prevention and complex crisis response team in the Ontario Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research, funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. In 2023, he was inducted as a Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in the Royal Society of Canada, for his work in advancing Indigenous social and health justice.  

Outside of work, Jeffrey cherishes time with his partner and friends, enjoys walks with his dog “Blueberry,” writes children’s books, plays the piano and guitar, and participates in the co-operative softball association, Field of Dreamers. Proud to be a part of the CASP board, Jeffrey is deeply invested in reimagining suicide prevention through the lens of life promotion. In life promotion, we work to not merely prevent death, but also to nourish miyo-pimâtisiwin (a good life), in our communities, society and the planet.