The largest study of treatment-resistant depression in older adults has found that augmenting commonly used antidepressants with the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole can induce remission of depressive symptoms in 30 per cent of patients. The results of the Optimizing Outcomes of Treatment-Resistant Depression in Older Adults (OPTIMUM) clinical trial have just been published in the New England Journal […]
What is stress? Stress is something we all experience. When we talk about being stressed, we are referring to a mental state of worry and anxiety. This is usually a result of being exposed to a stressor (a perceived threat, harm or event). Stress serves a purpose and isn’t always bad. It can protect us […]
Around three million Canadians have an anxiety disorder. One in four will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime.[1] Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of mental health disorders in Canada. They have a major impact on the lives of those affected. It’s important that we understand what anxiety disorders […]
As a parent, it’s common to experience stress, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed at times. But these challenges can get amplified for parents also managing a mental illness. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder before the birth of my children. I walked into parenthood knowing it would be just a little different than the experiences of […]
Entertainment and media can influence us in many ways, both positively and negatively, and how mental illnesses are portrayed through these media has the power to potentially heal – or harm – an audience. For the past eight years, Au Contraire film festival has been showcasing films that explore mental health and mental illnesses. The purpose: to […]
If you’ve been struggling with addiction to alcohol, you may not know what steps to take to acknowledge and deal with the problem. In many cases, people take their first steps toward recovery when a loved one stages an intervention for them. What do you do, though, if you realize you need to make a […]
It can be challenging to talk about mental health with friends and loved ones, as there is often a fear of being judged or misunderstood. In this post, I will share five tips for starting a conversation with your friend about their mental health. Why it’s important to have conversations about mental health Before we […]
Resiliency is close to the heart of what is needed to get sober and to stay sober. And Shawn C., an alum of EHN Canada’s Bellwood Treatment Centre, knows a thing or two about resiliency. He learned a lot about along the bumpy life path leading to the centre in Toronto’s Sunnybrook area. He is learning […]
The brain is one of the most complex and fascinating parts of the human body. It is responsible for all functions of the body including how we move, communicate, make decisions and interpret our surroundings. Our brain also processes our thoughts, behaviours, feelings, and emotions. This is why we can’t talk about mental health without […]
There is a misconception that being mentally healthy means being happy all the time. The expressions are well-known: keep your chin up, or your upper lip stiff. Who hasn’t heard the advice: when life hands you lemons, make lemonade? We’re here to suggest that you keep your chin where it is and do whatever you […]
