Trying to Understand the Homelessness Epidemic

 The homelessness epidemic is a great tragedy, with surprisingly large numbers of people unhoused and living in a desperate manner. Furthermore, the rise in homelessness affects us all. My wife and I live in Kingston, Ontario. My wife, who is a retired professor of Civil Engineering, and a very capable

Mental health and wellness: a necessity for productive living

 Man as a social being needs to live and interact with other components in his environment. This ability to live in harmony, unity, and productive life with other men, animals, plants, and other resources in the environment defined the functionality and satisfaction of man in his environment. Hence, a man's

Dealing with stigma and mental health

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, My teenaged son lives with anxiety and depression. Last year his physician thought he needed some time away from school. Upon his return, my son felt that many of his fellow students were avoiding him and/or judging him. Are attitudes of shame and blame common? How can

Expressing concern and making declarations is not an achievement

 Ottawa city councillor Catherine McKenney’s motion to declare a housing and homeless emergency in the national capital passed unanimously at city council on a cold night at the end of January. Typically, councillor’s changed the original motion to call it both a ‘crisis and an emergency’. According to city staff,

Pretty damn crazy!

 “Hey mom, I just can’t do it anymore! . . . It’s over! . . . He’s out and I’m a mess!” “Can I crash with you while I sort myself out?” That desperate call came to my friend Leah, about one year ago. “Another one bites the dust!” she

Mental health in Ottawa: Know the facts

 Mental health is a crucial component of overall health. Mental disorders constitute various behaviors associated with impaired functioning and stress. People of all races, ages, and social backgrounds can suffer from mental illness. In Ottawa, many people suffer from mental health challenges, even though 72% of them perceive themselves to

Homewood Health — Ottawa Life speaks high quality care with Homewood chief

 Homewood Health is one of Canada’s largest and leading facilities for medical treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. With over 4,500 employees and clinical experts, they provide mental health and addiction services to help Canadians across the country live healthier, more productive and more fulfilling lives. Their services includes

“What happens to our sons and daughters with disabilities when we die?”

 By Al Etmanski Canada’s Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is the first poverty-fighting tool for people with disabilities in the world. This remarkable example of federal/provincial/territorial cooperation, which was created in 2008, has already changed the lives of more than 150,000 Canadians with disabilities. Unfortunately, the RDSP is only reaching 29 per cent of those eligible. And

Building Bikes a Second Life

 Photos by Eric Murphy. When you look at your old bike, the one that sat outside all winter and probably makes a few too many concerning sounds, you might see an inconvenience. However, if someone from Ottawa’s Causeway Work Centre saw that bike, they would see a treasure. For Cycle

From Playground to Podium and Everything that Comes After

 Everyone knows that podium moment. You’re watching the Olympics late at night and the Canadian is facing the final jump, or the last lap or the breakaway goal. You hold your breath, they go for it, and after a few tense seconds…it’s perfect. “Gooooooold!” someone inevitably yells. Then it’s the

Ending Homelessness Through Housing First Initiatives

 Up to 15 per cent of the homeless population in Canada is struggling with mental illness. Could giving them a permanent home be a way off the streets and into a healthier life? In this interview, Evidence Network's podcast editor Mélanie Meloche-Holubowski speaks with Dr. Jino Distasio, Director of the Institute of Urban Studies

Physician-assisted Dying Should not be a Substitute for Adequate Care and Supports for People with Mental Health Problems

 The federal government committee looking at physician assisted dying released its long-awaited recommendations recently to much debate. The permissive approach it recommends reflects the spirit of the Supreme Court of Canada declaration that the prohibition of physician assisted dying violates the fundamental human right to make one's own decisions about

Assisted Suicide for Those With Mental Illness is a Risky Proposition

 Who but those who have experienced it can appreciate the soul crushing anguish of mental illness? Afflictions of the mind can be paralyzing and fundamentally change the way we perceive ourselves (I am worthless), anticipate the future (my prospects are hopeless), and experience the world (life is unfair and unforgiving).

New Government Should Start by Making the RCMP More Accountable

 Photo by Flickr user Jamie McCaffrey. CC. Now that there’s a new Liberal government in power in Ottawa, one can only hope that a new public safety minister will make it a priority to address the myriad problems created by the Harper government in the criminal justice system over the past 10

Acupuncture to Enhance Anti-depressant Medication: Feel Better Faster

 Depression and chronic low mood are very prevalent conditions affecting Canadians. Those diagnosed with mild to moderate forms of depression can have success with natural interventions if they are started early with good adherence to treatment. But not all cases are the same, and those diagnosed with more serious and chronic

Some of the Most Complex Needs of My Patients Stem from Poverty and not Disease Alone

 Why Canadian children need a champion. A young girl is referred to a pediatrician's office for inability to pay attention in the classroom. The child’s teacher is concerned she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and possibly, a learning disability. I am a second year medical student working in the

An Interview With the Adventurous Adam Lolacher

 Photo courtesy of Elysse Gilbertson on the set of Medic Ottawa born and a University of Ottawa alumni, Adam Lolacher is an actor with some stories to tell. After giving up his basketball aspirations at a young age due to injury, Lolacher got into acting. Now living in Vancouver, the

Older adults living with mental illness need specialized housing

 New Calgary report warns more homeless seniors a real possibility By Pat Cashion and Lee Tunstall Older adults living with mental illness often face a double stigma in our society—both from aging and from mental illness. They are some of the most invisible and most vulnerable individuals in our communities,

My New Years Resolution – Sleep!

 With the dawn of a new year, most of us have thoughts of making positive changes in our lives. But few think of getting more sleep. Sleep is one of the four pillars of optimal health, and more and more research is highlighting its importance as part of a healthy

Aboriginal Initiatives at Nipissing University

 The Aboriginal Initiatives Program at Nipissing University offers students a unique opportunity to remain connected with their heritage while receiving their education. Throughout the school year, as well as in the summer, the Aboriginal Initiatives Office is busy helping students engage in their studies and in their community in order

Why You Can’t See a Psychiatrist

 And why adding more psychiatrists to the mental health system may not be the answer. We are talking openly about mental illnesses and addictions now more than ever--and that’s a good thing. Efforts to address the stigma associated with mental illnesses have made it easier for people who have been

Healthwise: Living with anxiety and depression

 I am honoured to be welcomed as the new Accredited Health Blogger for Ottawa Life Magazine. For my first post as such, I have decided to explore an illness that affects a significant number of adults: anxiety and depression. Because of this particular time of year, and given the recent