“Idle Hands Here are the Devil’s Playground”: The Perceived Relationship Between Boredom and Substance Use Among Persons

Presentation Summary: In this presentation, Cory Herzog-Fequet will discuss his findings from a study that explored how individuals experiencing homelessness perceive the relationship between boredom and substance use.

Speaker Biography: Cory is a community mental health and addictions professional with approximately a decade of frontline experience supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness. His work is deeply informed by his lived experience of episodic homelessness as a youth, which continues to shape his commitment to advancing more effective and compassionate responses to housing instability. He recently completed his MSc through the Social and Justice Mental Health Research Lab at Western University in London, Ontario. Drawing on both personal and professional perspectives, his work focuses on addressing systemic barriers and improving outcomes for individuals who are unhoused or precariously housed.