What is it about mental illness that generates discomfort for people? Ignoring the warning signs of an imminent mental breakdown is believed to have been a contributing factor in one well-publicized case that ended in tragedy for the Lall family. Why does it take a tragedy to discuss mental illness when it is so prevalent in our society?

This issue was discussed in an excellent column entitled We’re all to blame for staying mum on mental illness written by Andre Picard in the June 5th edition of the Globe and Mail

• André Picard, public health reporter at The Globe and Mail and author of Critical Care: Canadian Nurses Speak For Change and The Gift of Death: Confronting Canada’s Tainted Blood Tragedy and A Call to Alms: The New Face of Charity in Canada.
  

Mental Illness stigma part 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Bipolar disorder is an inheritable illness that leads to extreme mood swings. About one in 100 Canadians suffer from this condition over their lifetime. Efforts are being made to understand the pathophysiology or mechanism of the disease process. Researchers at UCLA are contributing to this understanding. In the July issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry, [...]

Insight into how lithium interacts with the brain Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bipolar disorder is an inheritable illness that leads to extreme mood swings. One study revealed a 13 percent risk of bipolar disorder among children of biological parents with the disorder. About one in 100 Canadians suffer from this condition over their lifetime. The World Health Organization identified it as the sixth leading causes disability-adjusted life [...]

Bipolar Disorder MacDonald Part 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bipolar Disorder MacDonald Part 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Many people have knowledge abot what to do in the face of a medical emergency and can provide some form of first aid. However the same cannot be said for psychiatric care. There continues to be a stigma about mental illness when there should not be and a new and innovative program has been established [...]

Alberta Mental Health Board launches Mental Health First Aid Canada Play Now | Play in Popup | Download