The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has released its annual report for 2010–2011. Titled “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” this report not only reviews the past fiscal year, it also celebrates the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the OHRC. Of particular interest to those involved in mental health is the section of the report titled […]Continue readingOHRC Annual Report released
News and Events
Human Rights 101
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has produced an online learning video titled “Human Rights 101.” This educational video includes three units: About the Human Rights Code (history, foundations and what is covered) The Code (key concepts, rights and responsibilities, recognizing discrimination) The Human Rights system in Ontario (the Commission, Legal Support Centre and […]Continue readingHuman Rights 101
LCO releases draft anti-ageism legal framework
The Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) has just released a “Draft Framework for the Law as It Affects Older Adults” for public feedback. Once finalized, the framework can be used by legislators, policy-makers, advocacy organizations, community groups and service providers in the evaluation of new or existing laws, policies, and practices as they impact older […]Continue readingLCO releases draft anti-ageism legal framework
Mental health court created in Manitoba
The Government of Manitoba has allocated $600,000 for a new mental health court which will be available to individuals with a mental health condition who are accused of non-violent crimes. It is expected that the mental health court will be hearing cases by late 2011. “The court will work with people whose mental health issues […]Continue readingMental health court created in Manitoba
BC identifies health system actions to reduce health inequities
In response to growing evidence of health inequities affecting British Columbians, particularly in the area of chronic disease, the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) initiated the Reducing Health Inequities: A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease Preventionproject. The project’s final discussion paper and recommendations are now available. The report’s recommendations were developed through extensive consultation with […]Continue readingBC identifies health system actions to reduce health inequities
New health equity resources for racialized communities
The Building Capacity for Equity in Health Promotion for Racialized Communities project has released a literature review and a resource guide focused on racialized health inequities. This bilingual project was co-led by Health Nexus and the Health Equity Council, and funded by the Healthy Communities Grant of the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion. The project team […]Continue readingNew health equity resources for racialized communities
Patients using antidepressants more likely to relapse
In a study sure to stir up the winds of controversy, McMaster researcher Paul Andrews concludes that people who use antidepressants are more likely to experience a relapse of major depression after they have stopped their course of medication, than those who did not take antidepressants. In an article published in Frontiers in Psychology, Andrews and […]Continue readingPatients using antidepressants more likely to relapse
Chief Coroner’s report looks at First Nations youth suicides
The Chief Coroner of Ontario has identified a rising number of First Nations teenage suicides for youth living on reserves. This is based on a review of the northern Ontario First Nations community of Pikangikum, where 16 young people between the ages of 10 and 19 committed suicide during 2006 to 2008. The review examined […]Continue readingChief Coroner’s report looks at First Nations youth suicides
Friends with benefits: pets and emotional well-being (USA)
Researchers from Miami University in Ohio have recently found that pet owners do better in the areas of physical fitness, self-esteem, conscientiousness, social communication, and reduced worrying and fearfulness, than people who do not have pets. Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers evaluated the benefits of owning a pet among “everyday […]Continue readingFriends with benefits: pets and emotional well-being (USA)
Global depression (International)
New research published in Biomed Central Medicine compares the incidence of depression in 18 countries. Researchers collaborated with the World Health Organization Survey Initiative from 20 centres to investigate the prevalence of depression and major depressive episodes (MDE) in the world. To be classified as having an MDE, people had to fulfill five out of nine criteria […]Continue readingGlobal depression (International)