Explore the following data resources and select datasets based on key areas of interest. Researchers can request a consultation with our team to help in the process. Get in touch here.

 

How do I use this website? 

Say you have a research question that you want to answer, but you don’t have the right data on hand to do so. You could go out and collect some new data, but doing so will take time, can be incredibly costly, and pose many challenges, especially for investigators early in their careers. Fortunately, there are many high-quality publicly available data sources that collect information on depression and mental health that provide a cost- and time-efficient means of answering research questions. 

However, even when using existing datasets researchers must still contend with several challenges: 1) While the data may be publicly-available at no cost, it can take a significant amount of time to sort through the available options and find the right one to answer your question; and 2) once you have identified the appropriate data source, the learning curve can be significant and not all early career investigators may feel prepared to dive into the data themselves. The Data and Design Core is focused on addressing these two issues.

How do I choose the right dataset for my research question?

That depends entirely on the question that you are trying to answer! 

There is no perfect dataset. Instead, each data source will have their own strengths and drawbacks. For example, a dataset may have a rigorous, clinically-valid measure of depression, but a limited and non-representative sample which reduces generalizability and statistical power. Alternatively, a study may have a very large, representative sample but the measure of depression may be just a couple of items. How you navigate these trade-offs is a key part of conducting rigorous scientific research.

We have organized the following resources to help you select your dataset based on key areas of interest. If you have any questions, you can also request a consultation with our team to help you in the process.