Owen O’Sullivan

Dr. O’Sullivan is a Staff Psychiatrist (Forensic Division, Complex Care and Recovery Program) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and an Assistant Professor & Clinician Teacher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

He graduated with honours in medicine from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, subsequently earning an MSc in cognitive neuroscience from University College London. His psychiatric training spanned Ireland and the UK, including a three-year general residency in Dublin and a three-year specialist forensic residency in London.

During his forensic residency, he pursued interests in quality improvement (QI), medical education and mental health law. He published a large-scale QI project that sought to foster a culture of openness between staff and patients around inpatient violence in secure settings in East London. During the pandemic, he completed a full-time Fellowship in Medical Education at Maudsley Learning specializing in simulation. He developed a novel methodology for delivering large-scale, high-fidelity online simulation, later earning Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. In addition, he graduated with distinction from the LLM in mental health law at Northumbria University.

Dr. O’Sullivan gained specialist accreditation as a forensic psychiatrist in the UK where he practiced before relocating to Canada in 2024. His clinical work encompasses caring for patients under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board. He has training and experience as an expert witness.

He has published across diverse topics and contributed to international forensic mental health textbooks. He serves on the Editorial Board of the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) Books Committee. Beyond clinical and academic roles, he has trustee experience in the charitable sector.

Recent Publications:

O’Sullivan OP, Eastman N. 'Out of the Penal System and into the Hospital Regime?' Judicial Challenges in Sentencing Mentally Disordered Offenders and the Likely Impact of the 2020 Sentencing Council Guideline. Journal of Criminal Law (2023) 87, 5-6.

O’Sullivan OP, Powell J, Bignell A, Parish S, Campbell L, Iannelli H, Attoe C, Billon G. Facilitator reflections on online delivery of simulation-based mental health education during COVID-19. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice (2022) (Online).

O'Sullivan OP. Financial abuse, statutory provisions and the courts: adequacy and analysis of enduring and lasting powers of attorney. Journal of Adult Protection (2021), 23(4): 253-262. DOI: 10.1108/JAP-01-2021-0004.

O'Sullivan OP, Chang NH, Njovana D, Baker P, Shah A. Quality improvement in forensic mental health: the East London forensic violence reduction collaborative. BMJ Open Quality (2020) Sep 1;9(3):e000803.

O'Sullivan OP. Medical treatment and best interests: judicial interpretation of values, wishes and beliefs under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Journal of Adult Protection (2020).

O’Sullivan OP. Autism spectrum disorder and criminal responsibility: historical perspectives, clinical challenges and broader considerations within the criminal justice system. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine (2018), 34(4): 333-339.

Honours and Awards:

2022: Travelling Scholarship, Forensic Psychiatry International Research Summer School, Taranto, Italy.

2017: Early Career Scientist Scholarship, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Workshop on Clinical Research Methods, Barcelona, Spain.

2016: Dr. C. Smith Medal, National Forensic Essay Competition, College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

2015: European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees Exchange Program, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.