News and Events

On June 3, the federal government announced support for anti-bullying initiatives by investing $250,000 in a Red Cross programme that will train 2,400 Canadian youth to deliver workshops on anti-bullying. Each of the youth will in turn train at least 20 additional people each, for a total of nearly 50,000 youth leaders.

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario (CMHA Ontario) is pleased to announce the release of its 2012/2013 Annual Report. The report highlights achievements and milestones in children and youth mental health, chronic disease prevention and management, action on the social determinants of health, equity, justice, quality improvement, and workplace mental health.

On June 11, the Ontario Ombudsman released his report condemning the use of excessive force in the province’s correctional institutes. While prison guards have the right to use physical force to manage inmates, such force should only be used appropriately and only to the degree necessary to gain control. The use of excessive force, the use of force with the intent to cause harm, or the continued use of force beyond what is required to gain control of a situation is not acceptable.

Income impacts mental health with significant implications for the provincial health system. An analysis by the Sudbury District Health Unit (SDHU) found that the most socio-economically deprived neighbourhoods in the City of Sudbury experienced almost four times the rate of mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits than the highest income areas. If all Sudburians experienced the same health as those in the highest income areas, the city would experience a reduction of over 14,000 ED visits per year.

A provincial study has found significant rates of racism or ethnicity-related discrimination experienced among its trans person participants. The study is part of Trans PULSE, a community-based research project exploring the health impacts of discrimination and exclusion on trans people in Ontario.

Researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto recently announced the launch of the Ontario Birth study which will follow thousands of women through their pregnancy, and their children, to see what effects in-utero exposure has on the later development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and mental illness.

The needs of women with substance use issues who are pregnant or parenting are not being met by traditional addiction services. Aboriginal mothers are up against even more challenges.

There is a lack of Canadian research on the mental health of newcomer youth. To fill this gap, researchers undertook a study that looked at the social determinants of newcomer youth mental health. They conducted a survey and focus groups with youth living in four areas of Toronto to better understand the economic and social conditions that shape their mental health.

How does a community health centre meet the health care needs of racialized women from diverse backgrounds? If you ask Notisha Massaquoi, Executive Director of Women’s Health in Women’s Hands (WHWH), it’s by playing a balancing act. The trick is to have a strong mandate and establish the right partnerships, while also remaining flexible to your clients’ changing needs.

A new early intervention service for inmates on remand in Canada will provide help to offenders who are at risk of being unfit to stand trial or who may have a defence of not criminally responsible available to them. The intervention was developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in partnership with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, with support provided by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.