A coroner’s inquest into the death of Pickering, Ontario teen Gleb Alfyorov finds that the province needs a treatment centre outside of jails where youth can receive court-ordered psychiatric evaluations. Alfyorov was court-ordered by a judge to be assessed for criminal responsibility, based on a previous assault of hitting his older sister. While awaiting a […]Continue readingCoroner’s inquest into suicide of teen waiting for mental health assessment
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Ontario’s new government-issued photo ID card now available
As of July 25, 2011 Ontarians can now apply for the province’s new government-issued photo identification (ID) card. The new photo ID card can be obtained at one of 21 ServiceOntario locations across the province and will be available at all locations by 2012. The card costs $35 and is valid for five years. Individuals […]Continue readingOntario’s new government-issued photo ID card now available
LGBT consultation identifies priority areas for mental health and addictions research
As part of the broader Creating Together: Co-Creating a Mental Health and Addictions Research Agenda for Ontario initiative (see the May 5th issue of Mental Health Notes for more information about Creating Together), in September 2010, OMHAKEN and Rainbow Health Ontario partnered to sponsor the first mental health and addictions research consultation with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and […]Continue readingLGBT consultation identifies priority areas for mental health and addictions research
Financial and emotional implications of severe obesity
Canadians who are living with severe obesity struggle with financial and emotional burdens related to their condition, a recent national survey suggests. The Canadian Obesity Network survey was conducted by Leger Marketing in early 2010 through an online panel of 524 Canadians with a body mass index of 35 or more. The survey indicated that […]Continue readingFinancial and emotional implications of severe obesity
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)