On April 30th, I am participating in a Deloitte-hosted webcast alongside Kristen Sovereign, Joe Blomeley, Dr. Deborah Miscoll & Dr. Christina Schendel for a discussion on breaking down barriers & flipping the script on mental health. Register: shorturl.at/chsP9.

Our May issue is out --

Cover image by Traumascapes Arts Collective

thelancet.com/journals/lanps…

British MPs vote to make #tobacco illegal for future generations, target #vaping in new bill. Law will make it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009, by @pwaldieglobe theglobeandmail.com/world/article-… via The Globe and Mail #HarmReduction #smoking

On #NationalVolunteerWeek , we want to thank the many #volunteers who have given their time and shared their talent to help our patients on their journeys.

Together, we choose #hope . 🙏💜💛❤️

Learn more and get involved!:
➡️camh.ca/en/get-involve…

#NVW #NVW 24

Opioid-related deaths:
Across Canada, the burden of premature opioid-related deaths doubled between 2019 and 2021, representing more than one-quarter of deaths among younger adults.
➡️ cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.…

#Opioids responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in young adults aged 20-39: study. The #ToxicDrugCrisis has killed more than 40,000 people in Canada the past 8 years, by Kenyon Wallace thestar.com/news/canada/op… via @torontostar Tara Gomes

Today is #NationalPetDay ! 🐶🐱🐍🐠

Several studies have shown that petting dogs can lower blood pressure and ease #tension .

Thank you to all our CAMH #volunteer therapy #dogs and their owners who bring comfort and joy to patients, families and staff.

tDCS for Depression

This week, we look at the new JAMA Psychiatry paper by Lucas Borrione et al. showing no superiority over a sham intervention. Also, psychiatrists & AI (@crblease, Psychiatry Research Journal) and Dr. Daniel Gorman on Charlatan Syndrome (@JAMA_current).

davidgratzer.com

Our new overview article on homelessness and mental illness is now freely available online for all. It covers a lot of ground in its ~6,000 words, ending with three proposed practice and policy priority streams to reduce homelessness and improve health (nature.com/articles/s4422…).

Having been through ‘hell and back’ with crushing #depression , star Olympian ⁦Penny Oleksiak⁩ is back in the pool and loving swimming 🏊‍♀️ again, by ⁦Devin Heroux⁩ via @cbcnews #MentalHealth cbc.ca/sports/olympic…

Rebroadcast today on CBC Radio's Ideas. Loved sharing this talk Wilfrid Laurier University in Nov as part of the Edna Staebler Award & getting it onto airwaves thx to the amazing Nahlah Ayed & team.

Healthcare remains a five-alarm fire. Nothing's changed.

André Picard

cbc.ca/radio/ideas/ji…

In this RCT, unsupervised home-use transcranial direct current stimulation combined with a digital psychological intervention or digital placebo was not found to be superior to sham for treatment of a major depressive episode. ja.ma/43MnPAI

New research published in Nature Mental Health by Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos and Nick Kerman (@nkerman.bsky.social) examines the relationship between #mentalhealth , homelessness and housing policy, promising interventions for at-risk populations and recommended practice/policies.

MORE:
nature.com/articles/s4422…

It’s no secret I struggled with mental health. The truth is, I didn’t believe anything was going to change, that maybe I lost my family or my career...but I got the help I needed.

Now, I'm able to share my story & talk about the importance of mental health.

Get help. It works.

The Doctor of Triathlons: North Bay's Dr .Len Gushe has won 70 #triathlon competitions over two decades. He also holds 25 Masters swimming🏊‍♂️records. baytoday.ca/local-news/the… via BayToday marc picard

Do ADHD meds reduce mortality?

This week, we look at the new JAMA Psychiatry paper by Lin Li et al. that analyzed data from almost 150 000 people with ADHD. Spoiler alert: the meds worked. Also, Rebecca Lawrence on her husband & his support. #psychtwitter

davidgratzer.com

This is part of the reason it’s so critical for mental health professionals to be present on social media sharing evidence based information…even if we’re a little shy.

Appreciate that reminder from American Psychiatric Association

I spoke w/ Mira Cheng CNN Health about the new depression smartphone app that received FDA clearance. We cover what the evidence means, how to also find apps that don't require a prescription, and the need for educating clinicians about digital tools cnn.com/2024/04/02/hea…

New laws decriminalising personal use of #cannabis come into effect in Germany.🇩🇪Over-18s can now to carry up to 25 grams of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. theguardian.com/world/2024/apr… via The Guardian