On September 6th 2017, Wellesley Institute and CAMH hosted Professor Nikolas Rose, an international expert on the role of cities in Mental Health from King’s College London. This talk explores the impact of urban environments on the brain and the role of the city in mental health and mental illness and asks: how does stress […]
Mental health
Why Cities Should Collaborate for Mental Health & Well-being
Mental health is about more than accessing treatment and medication. The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” An estimated 1 in 5 […]
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Mobilizing Cities for Mental Health: Gary Belkin on ThriveNYC
On July 27 Wellesley Institute and CAMH hosted a conversation about working together to foster mental health and well-being in the city toward designing a city where all Torontonians can thrive. Our guest speaker was Dr. Gary Belkin from ThriveNYC, an initiative that led the way for a bigger conversation about mental health as a public health service in New York City. ThriveNYC is a roadmap designed […]
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Event: Mental Health and the Megacity
We are in the midst of a new era of urbanization. The United Nations predicts that two-thirds of the world will live in cities by 2050. Policymakers have begun to grapple with the economic and environmental consequences of this mass urbanization, but what are the implications for human health and mental well-being? Professor Nikolas Rose is […]
Five Good Ideas to Decrease Workplace Stress
Maytree is trying to help the non-profit sector thrive in these changing times. They asked me as a psychiatrist and CEO of Wellesley Institute, a policy think tank, to give my Five Good Ideas to decrease employee stress. I hope you find them useful. Stress can be brought about by factors at home and factors […]
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Welcome Steps on Supportive Housing and Mental Health
By Kwame McKenzie and Greg Suttor The Ontario government today announced new funding for supportive housing. Making the announcement, Eric Hoskins, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, noted that mental health matters for everyone, and that this is an integral part of health care. Besides supportive housing, the announcements included a new structured psychotherapy […]
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Green Paths to Mental Health Theoretical Framework
Although there is evidence that green space influences mental health and well-being, there is little existing work delineating the specific characteristics or features of green space as it relates to mental health impacts. A starting point towards this goal is to uncover and better understand the mediating and moderating factors that influence the relationship between […]
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The Influence of Green Space on Mental Health & Well-being
There is a body of research that indicates green space provides those living in urban spaces with access to the natural environment and its related benefits. The aim of this scoping review of reviews is to examine the evidence that exists about green space and mental health and provide a comprehensive scan of the vast amount […]
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Understanding How Neighbourhood Income Influences the Effects of Green Space on Mental Health
Green space is one component of the built environment but it is one that is essential for our mental health and well-being Studies have shown that green spaces may reduce stress and promote relaxation thereby contributing to improved mental health. This paper explores whether neighbourhood income (an ecological-level factor) moderates the relationship between green space […]
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Equitable Access to Mental Health Services a Must for Health Care in Canada
After Donald Trump criticized our health system in the second presidential debate, Canadians took to social media to defend our national treasure. After all, our health system is better than that of the USA. We see this to be self-evident, but it is also backed by data. In the most recent assessment of the quality […]
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