Ontario Child Health Study Getting Revival

In 1983, the late Dr. Dan Offord co-authored and led the Ontario Child Health Study, the largest and most comprehensive child mental health study of its kind at the time. Thirty years later, they're going even bigger.

Dr. Dan Offord (source: offordcentre.com)

CBC News reports that the study will expand its sample to 10,000 children from 7,020 families across Ontario. The study will also increase it's age range on the tail end by 2 years so now children between the ages of 4 and 18 years old will be included.

Study showed that 1 in 5 children have a mental health problem.

The original study used a sample of 3,294 children from 1,869 different families and determined that one in five children from the study had some type of mental health problem. (These conclusions drew worldwide attention and earned the study a reputation for being the most significant population-based study on children's mental health conducted anywhere. It became a model study for researchers of child health for the years to follow.)

We hope this study will once again bring the topic of child mental health issues to the forefront of society. We hope this study once again proves mental health affects more people than we think it does. 

Above all, we hope this study can once again start an open dialogue about mental health. Want to start that conversation sooner? We do, too. Drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

How to spot signs of a mental health concern in children:

Workplace Bullies

In most cases, the purpose of bullying is to hide inadequacy and to reduce fear of being seen as “weak.” The unwelcome behavior of a bully isn’t something that is restricted to the playground. The truth is, Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, ages, genders and races. Understanding how and why bullies bully is key to effective action. Whether you are a victim or you can see bullying going on around you it’s important to be able to identify it.

“Bullying is obsessive and compulsive; the serial bully has to have someone to bully and appears to be unable to survive without a current target.” –bullyonline.org

BullyOnline.org has given the following names to workplace bullies…

Pressure bullying - where the stress of the moment causes behavior to deteriorate; the person becomes short-tempered, irritable and may shout or swear at others.

Corporate bullying - where the employer abuses employees with impunity knowing that the law is weak and jobs are scarce. This type does things like…

•    Introduces "absence management" to deny employees annual or sick leave to which they are genuinely entitled

•    Regularly snoops and spies on employees. For example, by listening in on telephone conversations, using the mystery shopper, contacting customers behind employees backs and asking leading questions, conducting covert video, calling/messaging employee's home to interrogate the employees whilst on sick leave, or threatening employees with interrogation the moment they return from sick leave, etc.

•    Deems any employee suffering from stress as weak and inadequate whilst aggressively ignoring and denying the cause of stress (bad management and bullying)

•    "Encourages" employees to fabricate complaints about their colleagues

Client bullying - where employees are bullied by those they serve. For example: teachers by pupils and their parents, nurses by patients and their relatives, social workers by their clients, and office societies by customers. Often the client is claiming their perceived right in an abusive, derogatory and violent manner.

In environments where bullying is the norm, most people will either become bullies or become targets. What will you do? Stand up against bullying. Recognize the signs and talk to someone in your HR department.

Stay Strong

I know it's not easy when life takes away
All the things that you've learned and the things that you know
To replace them with heartache and pain and sorrow

I know all too well how easy it is to give up the fight
When the downs take hold with no end in sight
And the pain will go on through the night til' tomorrow

But soon things will change, the ups will return
You'll rearrange very fast when you learn
The smiles remind you that good times always do follow 


-Kirsty Richards

Imagine Run 2011

Imagine a world where we could personally talk about schizophrenia, depression, addictions, suicide or phobias in an atmosphere as relaxed as talking about hip-replacements or tennis elbow. It's important to get the topics out of the closet because Mental Health really Matters!

Imagine is a group of caring individuals who are committed to raising public awareness and removing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues & suicide.


On September 24, 2011 we will be holding the 4th annual 2011 Imagine Run. The event consists of a half marathon, 10K run/walk and this year we have added a 5K run/walk. The run takes place in Hespler Park, Niverville. 


Join us for Family Fun Day/Bands on Route/Park, Balloonist, Petting Zoo, BBQ, Party Bouncers & Children's Games.

To Register or for more information visit www.imaginementalhealth.com

Your Questions on Depression Answered

This article features commonly asked questions on Depression and how you can overcome it.


I think I'm depressed, where can I get help?
Talk to your primary or family physician. He or she will be able to review the signs and symptoms of depression with you, as well as rule out a possible physical cause for your symptoms. Following diagnosis, your physician can then initiate antidepressant therapy or refer you to a psychiatrist and/or threrapist or an EAP (employee assistance program) if you have one, for appropriate evaluation and treatment. Another route is to consult with your clergy, local hospital, community mental health center or telephone hotlines in your area for a referral for an appropriate evaluation.

It seems that more people are depressed nowadays than in the past. Is the rate of depression increasing?
Depression is common. That having been said, it is also important to point out that this is a seemingly simple question that requires a very complicated answer. While research documents an increase in the number of cases of depression reported and the number prescriptions for antidepressants, it is unclear whether this results from either a true increase in depression due to the stresses of modern life or from increased awareness and recognition of depression as a treatable medical illness. In any event, it is clear that major depression is common.

What is the difference between grief and depression?
Grief is a natural reaction to the loss of an important relationship. As human beings, our bonds to each other develop early (virtually at birth), are strong and often influence major decisions in our life. When we lose a significant relationship in our lives, it is natural for us to feel sadness or other depressive symptoms, such as loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. In fact, about 30 percent of people who have lost a significant other will continue to have these symptoms two months after the loss. These symptoms, however, usually lessen within six months.

Although both conditions may have depressed mood, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance and decreased energy, people with depression usually experience a sense of worthlessness, guilt and/or low self-esteem that is not common in normal grief reactions. For some, a grief reaction can develop into a major depression. For example, about 15 percent of grieving individuals will develop major depression after one year of a loss.

When is being depressed a normal reaction and when is it truly major depression?
All of us have days when we feel "depressed." Usually, these feelings are temporary, and we can have a great day tomorrow. Even when we have a bad day, we can still find enjoyment in things. These occasional bad days are part of life and not depression. Remember, a diagnosis of depression requires that you have these symptoms every day, or nearly every day, for a period of two weeks.

Sometimes, these feelings may persist for several days or even a week. This is common following the break-up of a relationship or other unpleasant event. Still, while you may have some of the symptoms of depression, it is unlikely that you have major depression unless a number of the symptoms are present and impair daily functioning. Even if you do not have major depression, you may have an adjustment disorder that would benefit from professional help. A trained professional can differentiate between a period of the blues and clinical depression.

How do most people react when they are diagnosed with depression?
For some people, a definitive diagnosis is a relief: "At last I know what I have," is their reaction, even if it comes months or years after the onset of symptoms. For others, however, the diagnosis comes as a terrible shock. Many people are ashamed of having a mental illness. Both reactions are quite normal.

Even when a definitive diagnosis is made and accepted, there may be additional concerns about the unknowns of the disorder: its course and outcome, worries about work, effects on family and frustrations about physical and emotional limitations. It is not unusual for these concerns to be expressed as anger, which may further deepen the depression. What is important is to know that depression is treatable and carries a good prognosis. Whatever your reaction, you are not alone, as depression is a common and very treatable problem.

What can I expect regarding other people's reaction?
A person suffering from fatigue and weakness, two symptoms of depression that can occur without obvious signs of physical disability, may look fine. Family members and friends may unsuspectingly expect more from the depressed person than he/she is capable of doing. Those symptoms may, then, be seen as character defects. Fatigue, for example, is frequently interpreted as laziness, or lack of initiative; depressed mood is sometimes seen as self-pity. These reactions may lead patients to begin to doubt their own self-worth. It is important to discuss this issue with your therapist and identify ways of handling this. It is important to remember that millions of people are disabled from a chronic injury or disorder and are living life to the fullest if they get proper treatment.

Visit www.imaginementalhealth.com for more resources and information on mental health disorders

Exercise & Depression

Time and time again we hear about the importance of regular exercise for our bodies. But not only does such exercise help our bodies — it does wonders for our minds as well. The latest finding comes from two researchers who found that simple exercise can be helpful with some people’s depressive mood:

The researchers based their finding on an analysis of dozens of population-based studies, clinical studies and meta-analytic reviews related to exercise and mental health, including the authors’ meta-analysis of exercise interventions for mental health and studies on reducing anxiety sensitivity with exercise.

The researchers’ review demonstrated the efficacy of exercise programs in reducing depression and anxiety.

And this is good news, since not everyone can afford psychotherapy or medications, and most people who have depression never seek out treatment for it anyways. If they do, it’s most often through their primary care physician, and they are most often just prescribed an antidepressant and then call it a day.

Exercise is easy and free. Take a walk around your neighborhood every day. Ride a bike. Jog around the park or around the town. Do a few dozen push-ups and/or sit-ups in your apartment. You can’t beat it for the convenience factor, the price, and the ease of actual doing factor.

Research shows it works — something about exercise seems to help us out of the depressive mood that infiltrates our brains. Exercise appears to affect, like an antidepressant, particular neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and it helps patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors. For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing.

Something to think about next time you forgo the walk outside, the playing ball with your friends or children, or don’t feel like getting off the couch. Our minds and bodies — they are the same and work together in conjunction with one another.

Source: Psych Central

Stigma around Mental Illness in the Workplace confirmed by Conference Board Study

A Conference Board study released on Monday at the Workplace Mental Health 2011 conference in Toronto confirms that stigma around mental illness still exists in the Workplace . The report reads that "when it comes to mental health, misinformation, fear and prejudice remain far too prevalent, it is time for a change."

Canadian Mental Health Association of Winnipeg (CMHA) Executive Director, Nicole Chammartin says “the report confirms what we have been aware of for a very long time, that stigma in the workplace is a huge barrier to people receiving appropriate help and supports.” Chammartin goes onto say “with 1 in 5 Canadians likely to experience a mental health issue in their lifetime, Canadian employers need to understand how this affects them and offer supports to their employees.”

A Winnipegger that experienced first-hand what the stigma can do is David Albert Newman. Newman was diagnosed with schizophrenia six years ago. In 2003, Newman lost his job as an accountant, which he blames on his mental illness and the company's refusal to see anything but the bottom line.

"The attitude was, 'We will just shove you out the door,'" Newman recalled. But the economic identity and social inclusion that comes from a job "is astronomical to your recovery," said Newman, a full-time internal auditor for the Manitoba government. Medication and therapy are helping Newman to manage his disease as he works on his master's thesis in his spare time.

The Study’s survey reports that 12 per cent of respondents said they were currently experiencing a mental health issue and another 32 per cent said they'd faced one in the past. The report goes onto state that “in addition to the effects of mental health on individuals, organizations are also feeling the financial costs. In 2009-2010, 78 per cent of short-term disability claims and 67 per cent of long-term disability claims in Canada were related to mental health issues.”

The Conference Board suggests the following improvements:

• Focusing on education and communication to reduce fear, stigma and discrimination in the workplace;
• Ensuring the organizational culture is conducive to supporting employees’ mental health;
• Encouraging senior executives to show demonstrable leadership around mental health; and
• Building managers’ capacity to support employees by providing the tools and training required in their role

CMHA Winnipeg offers courses such as Mental Health First Aid to employers and employees to assist in creating a greater understanding of mental health issues in the workplace. For more information call 982-6100 or visit www.cmhawpg.mb.ca

Source: Canadian Mental Health Association