Mental Health

Telegraph hit job a prime example of how not to report on drug policy

The Telegraph story depicts Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in a way that maximizes the harm done to their most vulnerable sources. But as journalists, we don't need to punch down to do our jobs.

Staying ahead of the curve – fentanyl, xylazine and the growing syndemic

Xylazine and other contaminants have made their way into the illicit drug supply complicating overdose response. We cannot afford to sit back and watch what happens.

It’s time to make compassion more relevant in our world

A generative compassion approach looks at the bigger picture and proactively asks the question: What more needs to be done to prevent more harm from occurring?

Privilege. Blame. Allyship. Reflecting on reconciliation as a non-Indigenous physician

CMA president Joss Reimer writes, "As individuals, we may not be responsible for what happened in the past. But we are responsible for what happens in the future."

Involuntary drug treatment: ‘Compassionate intervention’ or policy dead end?

Involuntary treatment for substance use is being proposed as a solution to the toxic drug supply crisis in provinces across the country. But do programs like this work?

Beyond acceptance: Fostering inclusive care for sex and gender minority youth

Sex and gender minority youth are disproportionately impacted by mental health concerns tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. But they're also less likely to find adequate supports.

Why are we not using evidence-informed workload management in health care?

Excessive staff workloads lie at the root of the current human resources crisis in health care. With nurses and front-line staff leaving the profession in droves, we need better workload management.

Cautious, compassionate safe supply is good public policy

Safe supply is not a magic bullet to cure our overdose emergency. However, under cautious guidelines, prescriber-based safe supply initiatives have a role to play in saving lives.

Fears of exposure to illicit drugs in public places based on politics, not facts

Health-care providers deserve to have a safe workplace, and this includes accurate information about their environmental risks. But the dangers of second-hand inhalation of illicit substances have been highly political rather than rooted in evidence.

‘Thank you for sharing. Do you have a plan?’ Outdated policies preventing peer supporters from saving lives

Peer supporters are ready and able to support people with experiences relating to death and dying – we just need organizational policies to get with the times.

Clarity, compassion and dignity: Communicating a dementia diagnosis effectively

Health-care providers often face challenges in communicating dementia diagnoses, as it involves navigating complex emotional and practical considerations. The toolkit can help.

‘Nurses are not a commodity. We are human’: Kari, registered nurse, Toronto

‘You just go to the bathroom and cry it out’: Paula, licensed practical nurse, Red Deer

‘Choosing to a job that pays less, because you enjoy it, only goes so far’: Vanessa, family doctor, Winnipeg

The toxic standards that have shaped coverage of drug use in Canada

While a health crisis has unfolded, newsrooms have had to learn to do better. But the changes in framing haven’t always come fast enough or extended to the workers with lived experience

How to make the most of your virtual mental health care appointment

With profound shifts in how mental health care is delivered, and a clear interest in the continued use of virtual care, a few simple recommendations can help everyone have a better experience in our “new normal.”

‘Where words fail, music speaks’

Therapists are training seniors in music to help with brain health. Research shows that learning to play an instrument in later life can help slow cognitive decline.

Match Day 2024: ‘Take 3 deep breaths … and have faith’

The NFL draft is much like the CaRMS match. It distills years of hard work and sacrifice into one binary answer: matched/unmatched.

Setting the record straight: Medical experts debunk the biggest myths in their field

These days, it's hard to know what to believe. We polled a panel of health experts on the most pervasive misinformation in their specialty and asked them to set the record straight.

‘Cruising down the wellness lane’: Program helps people struggling with addiction, mental illness find work on road to recovery

Supported Employment is a “golden ticket” for those struggling with mental-health challenges and addictions – and is therapeutic for employers and employees alike.