Only half of Canadians experiencing a major depressive episode receive “potentially adequate care.”

One-third of Canadians aged 15 or older who report having a need for mental health care say those needs were not fully met.

People with mood disorders are at much higher risk of developing a long-term medical condition.

People with mental illness are two times more likely to have a substance use problem versus the general population.

People with mental illness and addiction are more likely to die prematurely versus the general population.

People with mental illness are two times more likely to have a substance use problem versus the general population.

If you have OCD, you may be stressed, embarrassed and frustrated about the condition. But treatment can be effective.

PTSD is a complex mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The core features include intrusive memories, avoidance, negative alterations in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal.

Individuals with PTSD often experience recurrent, involuntary, and distressing memories of the trauma, which can include flashbacks or nightmares that feel vividly real.

The flashbacks lead to significant avoidance behaviors where the person may steer clear of reminders or situations related to the trauma, or have trouble remembering aspects of the event.

Negative alterations in mood and cognition can manifest as persistent negative thoughts about oneself or others, feelings of hopelessness, or a sense of detachment from others.

Additionally, patients often experience a heightened state of arousal, which can involve hypervigilance, exaggerated startle responses, irritability, or difficulty sleeping.

Treatment typically includes psychotherapy, along with medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to manage symptoms or benzodiazepines for short-term relief.

Like other substance use disorders, alcohol use disorder is a chronic and relapsing condition that reflects changes in the brain.”

When people with the disorder are abstaining from alcohol, they remain at increased risk of going back to unhealthy alcohol consumption, even if years have lapsed since their last alcoholic drink.

People who have alcohol use disorder may continue to use alcohol even though they know it is causing social, health, financial, domestic and possibly legal problems in their lives.

It is important to remember that alcohol use disorder is not due to an individual’s lack of self-discipline or resolve. Rather, it is a brain disease that can be inherited.

Long-term alcohol use can produce changes in the brain that can cause people to crave alcohol, lose control of their drinking and require greater quantities of alcohol to achieve its desired effects.

Alcohol use disorder can also cause people to experience withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue alcohol use. These symptoms can be acute and may need urgent treatment.

Additionally, social factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, social support networks, and cultural beliefs about pain can influence how individuals experience and cope with chronic pain.