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“You don't actually need billions of dollars to prevent suicide. You just need really good coordination.” Suicide prevention has come a long way since the SAD PERSONS acronym many of us learned in medical school. As research continues to evolve, how can we keep up—and thoughtfully incorporate newer considerations like media influence, pesticide availability, and even artificial intelligence? On this episode of Quick Takes, I had the opportunity to discuss this topic with one of the world’s leading experts in this space, Dr. Mark Sinyor, professor at the University of Toronto, staff psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and author of more than 150 papers.  Together we learn: Suicide barriers are proven effective. Banning dangerous pesticides not only saves lives but can increase crop yields. A little creativity goes a long way when introducing CBT to school-aged children. You don't actually need billions of dollars to prevent suicide. You just need really good coordination. That maintaining hope is crucial in suicide prevention. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“Over time, my perspective on psychiatry has changed in the direction of greater skepticism." What happens to your perspective after five decades in psychiatry—treating tens of thousands of patients, leading major institutions, and authoring dozens of books and papers? On this episode of Quick Takes, I find out as I sit down with Dr. Joel Paris, former editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, and self‑proclaimed skeptic. In this episode, Dr. Paris: critiques the DSM and ICD diagnostic systems challenges serotonin-based explanations for depression expresses skepticism toward both psychotherapy and biological psychiatry argues that adult ADHD, autism, and trauma are over‑diagnosed suggests that CBT is over‑marketed and shares several other controversial opinions THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“Good systems just work. They don't need to be navigated.” On this episode of Quick Takes, I spoke with Dr. Paul Kurdyak about how mental health care differs from other areas of the health system—especially when it comes to access, quality of care, and the need for a more structured and accountable approach. Key takeaways from this episode: our mental health care system lacks coherence and accessthere are pockets of excellence in mental health careimproving access requires structural changesa playbook to accomplish change already exists. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“The beating heart of the wellness industry is pseudoscience.” With a few clicks of the mouse, our patients can read what we read – including the latest journals. But they also can access a world of half-truths, misleading claims, and falsehoods. On this episode of Quick Takes, I speak with Dr. Jonathan Stea, a University of Calgary psychologist and a bestselling author, about his research on the wellness industry. In this episode you will learn about: the influence of the wellness industry in spreading misinformationthe difficulties of confronting pseudoscience within therapeutic practicesstrategies for helping patients critically evaluate and navigate misinformationthe impact of social media in amplifying misinformation THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“Imagine a world where you have all the effects of antipsychotics, but none of the side effects.”Celebrities use them; politicians discuss them; our patients ask about them. Are semaglutide and sister drugs game changers for those with mental health problems who struggle with obesity? To explore the opportunities and challenges of these new medications, on this episode of Quick Takes, I speak with Dr. Mahavir Agarwal (the medical head of CAMH’s Metabolic Clinic), Lisa Schaffer (executive director of Obesity Canada), and Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam (the scientific director of Obesity Canada and, of course, CAMH’s CMO). In this episode, you’ll learn: That 8 out of 10 patients taking antipsychotic medications will experience clinically significant weight gainHow treating obesity in these patients can also improve other chronic conditions to which they are more vulnerableThat some side effects of GLP-1 medications may limit access to treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)And about the emerging research using GLP-1s for alcohol and nicotine dependence THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“It’s one of the largest psychotherapy trials in the world.”When we hear “innovations in mental healthcare,” we tend to think about apps or wearables. In today’s episode of Quick Takes – part of our series on innovation – I speak with Daisy Singla, a senior scientist at CAMH and our first womenmind™ scientist. Singla talks about her recent study that expanded access to psychotherapy for perinatal women, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety by drawing a page from work done in low-income countries. The key concept: training up laypeople to deliver therapy. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: How effective therapy delivered by non-specialists was for pregnant and postpartum participantsThe surprising impact the study had on trauma symptomsThe role task-sharing and telemedicine played in the studyAnd how a model used in Goa can scale up to help improve maternal mental healthcare in North America THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“Does depression care include the downward dog?”Mindfulness, acupuncture, yoga. These were all once considered alternative treatments – favoured by some patients but lacking in evidence. Times have changed. Mindfulness, for instance, is a psychotherapy mentioned in the depression guidelines. What about yoga? In today’s Quick Takes episode, I speak with Dr. Vanika Chawla, a psychiatrist, a registered yoga teacher, and an assistant professor at Stanford University, about her experience incorporating yoga into her practice. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: Common misconceptions about yogaThe three key components of yoga-based interventionsThe optimal duration, and frequency of yoga interventions for different diagnosesRecent research findings on yoga’s effectiveness THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“We all need help sometimes.”As doctors, we often shy away from discussing our health, especially our mental health — even with our own physicians. That’s unfortunate as doctors have a higher suicide rate than the general population, yet fears of vulnerability, judgment, and stigma keep many of us silent. In this episode of Quick Takes, Dr. Gratzer sat down with Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, who openly shares her own experiences with depression, as a doctor and as a patient. In this episode, you will learn: About the importance of reaching out and getting help for mental health—whether it's a diagnosed illness or normal stress.What it’s like to have your mental health be front-page news.How Dr. Reimer would like to change the health care system.And what may be the best ice cream shop in the Canada. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“It took a pandemic to get us to realise that we could do so much online.”When it comes to medical education, much has changed over the years—including its name. What was once known as Continuing Medical Education (CME) is now referred to as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). But the changes go far beyond a rebranding. After all, the sheer volume of journal articles available today is staggering. How can you keep up? How can technology help? In this episode Dr. Gratzer sat down with Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, CAMH’s VP Education and CMO, to explore the evolving world of CPD. In this episode you will learn about: the impact of the pandemic on CPDthe globalization of CPDthe role of AI may play in content creation and evaluationand why hybrid conferences are likely here to stay. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

“What is a mentor? Four words. One big question.”What do you look for in a mentor? What qualities should you consider? And, more importantly, what exactly is a mentor? To help answer these questions and discuss the role mentors play in the careers of physicians Dr. David Gratzer is joined by Dr. Suzanne Koven, a Harvard-affiliated physician and Writer-in-Residence at Massachusetts General, whose article, "What Is a Mentor?" was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this episode you will learn: the distinction between coaching and mentoringthe types of mentor relationshipsthe importance of genuine empathy and firm ego boundaries in mentorshow to find a good mentor. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Welcome to another episode of Quick Takes Essentials, our summer series.  This essential episode first aired in 2023 and is on the perpetually hot-topic of burnout.  Could the old concept of a doctor’s lounge be a new way of helping to address burnout? With 182 studies yielding 142 different definitions of burnout, is burnout, in fact, depression? Here I speak with Dr. Srijan Sen (of the University of Michigan) about how burnout has become a loose term that means different things to different people. Please enjoy. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Welcome to another episode of Quick Takes Essentials, our summer series.  On this episode, released this past February, I sat down with Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos (of the University of Toronto) and former Physician-in-Chief of CAMH to discuss why, across North America, there are more people who are chronically homeless than ever before.  Dr.  Stergiopoulos is an internationally recognized expert on chronic homelessness and offers great insight on this topic. What psychiatric problems does this population have?  And, importantly, how can we help them?  Please enjoy. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Welcome back to Quick Takes Essentials our summer series. ChatGPT is the most downloaded app in history. What are the implications for mental health services? Will AI change our work? In this episode, released in 2023, I speak with Dr. John Torous (of Harvard University) who serves as the director of the Digital Psychiatry Division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Please enjoy. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Welcome to another episode of Quick Takes Essentials, our summer series.  This essential episode was released just this past May and is on the newly released CANMAT Depression Guidelines update.  If you haven't had time to review the update, well, you can start by listening to this episode, which outlines all the major changes in that update in a quick, concise format.  The update draws on eight clinically relevant questions, which we explore akin to following a patient's journey.  Here I interview first co-author Doctor Raymond Lam of the University of British Columbia.  Please enjoy. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Welcome back to Quick Takes Essentials our summer series where we look back on recent clinical updates and big issues in psychiatry, which we focused on previously.  This is the sleep episode. For answers to questions on sleep disorders and the new medications available for physicians to prescribe, have a listen to this episode released in April of 2023 where I interviewed psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, Dr. Michael Mak. Take a moment or two this summer to learn something new while enjoying your morning coffee, taking a hike, or relaxing by the campfire. Please enjoy. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.