CAMH Foundation

Meet Karleigh Darnay, Clinical Practice Lead at CAMH.

Through Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO), Karleigh provides clinical and implementation leadership for the YWHO model of service delivery and within youth mental health and substance use system design and transformation initiatives.

Karleigh is dedicated to driving inclusivity in her work. She provides support to Shkaabe Makwa, the first hospital-based centre in Canada which focuses on the mental health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis by blending contemporary medicine with traditional knowledge.

CAMH is honoured to have leaders like Karleigh dedicated to building a future where youth are empowered to access the care they need in effective and respectful ways; a future where no one is left behind.

Learn more about YWHO at https://ow.ly/keno50SX0Mg

CAMH research aims to revolutionize the understanding of mental illness, use evidence to drive system and social change, and create a dynamic system where everyone becomes a research partner.

Dr. Gallagher's research interests are particularly focused on the application of genomics and neuroscience to personalised medicine approaches for neuropsychiatric conditions.

Since joining CAMH, Dr. Gallagher has led a new collaborative partnership with the Hospital for Sick Children aiming to streamline care for child and youth mental health.

She is leading the CALM cohort study of youth with multiple mental health conditions, a multisite study at six sites across Ontario and Alberta. The study seeks to better understand the impacts on youth of having multiple mental health challenges and improve care.

She is a strong advocate for the involvement of community in research and improving mental health services. CAMH is proud to have her leadership in helping change mental health care forever.

Learn more about her research in the CAMH 2023- 2024 Annual Report at https://ow.ly/mf4p50SS7Qa

The Garcia Family's story is one of tremendous loss, resilience and the enduring power of hope.

In May 2021, Francisco Garcia experienced what many consider the ultimate tragedy in life: the loss of a child. His daughter Bridgett died by accidental overdose and just over a year later, unthinkable tragedy happened again when his younger daughter Ashley, died by su***de.

Following the loss of his two daughters, Francisco Garcia established the Ashley and Bridgett Rainbow Fund at CAMH. This fund has since received contributions from around the world and has raised nearly $50,000, almost doubling their initial $25,000 goal.

The Garcia Family’s story serves as a reminder that even in the face of immense heartache, there can be a path forward, finding hope after loss.

Read the full story in the CAMH 2023-2024 Annual Report at https://ow.ly/lUrq50SOaML

Today is International Self Care Day.

Taking care of yourself can at times be challenging, especially when you have competing priorities.

Self care can mean different things to each of us, but it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.

Caring for your needs both mentally and physically is an important and ongoing practice needed to maintain a healthy life balance.

Share these 5 ways to practice self care in your daily life.

CAMH Foundation aims to maximize the impact of every dollar raised so it is directed to the people and programs that need it most.

Thank you to our generous donors for their continued support and shared commitment to mental health. Together we building a future where no one is left behind.

Read the 2023-2024 CAMH Annual Report at https://ow.ly/gR4w50SFmWY

Culturally and spiritually appropriate care is important at CAMH to recognize and respect the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, and needs of patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

After leading the first-of-its-kind addiction awareness outreach program inside mosques in 2021 and seeing significantly reduced stigma surrounding substance use disorder among Canadian Muslims, Dr. Hassan and his research team are now leading the Canadian Muslims Addiction Program project.

Dr. Hassan and his team have also developed a learning module to provide mental health professionals with evidence-based tools and training on culturally and spiritually sensitive approaches for treating Muslims with addiction. This knowledge sharing will ensure that research led by CAMH impacts people and populations well beyond our hospital.

Read the CAMH 2023-2024 Annual Report to learn more about Culturally Appropriate Care at CAMH at https://ow.ly/hIGJ50Svvlo

At CAMH, five major cohort studies are currently underway bringing together patients, researchers, clinicians and families in powerful new ways to develop new personalized treatments for the right people, right when they need them.

The five major cohort studies include:

- Toronto Adolescent & Youth Cohort Study (TAY)
- The CAMH Su***de Prevention Cohort Study
- Prediction of Individual Functional Outcome Trajectories in Schizophrenia
- Disentangling heterogeneity across neuropsychiatric disorders (HetNP)
- Cognitive Dysfunction in the Addictions (CDiA)

The Discovery Fund—made possible by anonymous $100-million donation to research at CAMH in 2018—is a key driver behind these research initiatives aimed at better treating, diagnosing and preventing mental illness.

Together we are building a future where no one is left behind.

Learn more about the five CAMH Cohort Studies at https://ow.ly/PNsE50Svvb9

Have you heard of Summer Depression?

When we hear of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), we tend to associate it with Winter Depression. SAD is a type of depression that tends to be affected by the time of the year, the light and the weather.

What is noteworthy is that some people experience the opposite pattern whereby the symptoms of depression begin in spring or summer. The symptoms can be mild and then progress and become more severe.

Although the cause of depression during summer is not yet known, possible contributing factors might include heat and humidity and longer days.

Avoiding social withdrawal and social isolation; staying active, going out and engaging in regular physical exercise; and keeping our regular daily activities are all very important.

Learn more about how to cope with summer depression at https://ow.ly/Txnk50Su0R3

Canada Day is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and the contributions of the vast number of diverse peoples who reside in this country - some here for millennia.

It is an important time to acknowledge the history of this land and its Indigenous peoples. And to look forward to a future filled with hope and a promise to work toward a shared understanding of how we can move forward together.

CAMH celebrates and supports the + community during Pride month and is committed to delivering lifesaving affirming health care to those in need all year round.

Our Rainbow services are available for le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r and two-spirit people who are concerned about their drug and alcohol use.

Learn more at https://ow.ly/rQQ850Spuqy

Mental health continues to be one the most important health care issues of our generation.

With the release of our new strategic plan, Connected CAMH, we focused on finding new ways to transform how patients and families experience evidence-based care and improved outcomes at CAMH.

The 2023-2024 CAMH Annual Report highlights how we're advancing care including:

- a potential new drug treatment for Multiple Sclerosis;
- the first-ever clinically validated natural supplement to prevent postpartum blues; and
- a pilot project that offers virtual mental health support for youth.

Together we’re building a future where no one is left behind.
Read the CAMH 2023-2024 Annual Report at https://ow.ly/h3vR50SpwUl

health continues to be one the most important health care issues of our generation.

Congrats to Dr. Liisa Galea, Scientific Lead for CAMH’s womenmind™ for being named a 2024 recipient of an Discovery Grant to investigate how estrogen in females influences memory acquisition & retention.

Thank you for your work advancing women’s !

The 2023-2024 CAMH Annual Report is here!

The pages of this report are filled with inspiring examples of change, celebration and connection at CAMH from throughout the year.

Because of your support, we have the privilege and opportunity to support patients today and transform care for patients of tomorrow.

Thank you for making this another year of progress. We look forward to continuing to drive change with you and making connections that will help us change the future of mental health care forever.

Read the CAMH 2023-2024 Annual Report at https://ow.ly/RI7t50Sk85b

Today is Father’s Day. It’s a great time to celebrate the meaningful male figures in your life and the positive impact they’ve had in your upbringing.

Did you know that new fathers are also vulnerable to postpartum depression? Paternal postpartum depression occurs among 10 percent of men between the first trimester and up to one year postpartum.

Coping with role transitions, relationship transitions and the potential career and financial stress of having a child may contribute to risk.

You can support new fathers by asking them about their experience of becoming a parent.

Learn more at https://ow.ly/scuZ50SiN29

June 13th is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day.

We know that mental health conditions may present themselves differently in men and it is important to normalize conversations about mental health issues to reduce the stigma that often prevents men from seeking help.

You can help by engaging in regular check-ins with the male figures you care about and would like to support.

CAMH has resources to help you get through these important conversations around men’s mental health and ways to support.

Find evidence-based resources in mental health at https://ow.ly/qp3n50Sftco



Source: https://ow.ly/gw9E50Sftho

What inspired you to join the womenmind community as an advocate for women’s mental health?

We asked Amanda Riva CEO & Co-Founder of to share her insights:

“My sister Rachel was my inspiration for joining the community. When we started Dotti, we knew we wanted to align with an organization that had a clear mandate and ability to meaningfully advocate and support those in need. CAMH provides the expertise, platform and reach to meaningfully impact change to a cause that is very meaningful to us.

When I reflect on our first 9-months since Dotti joined the community, I’m so humbled by the knowledge that has been shared, stories told and the immense passion from the entire womenmind community. This is a remarkable community that will forever change the course of women’s mental health.

At Dotti, my perspective of leadership has shifted since my last business. Previously, I really focused on ‘lead by example’ through hard work, determination, and perseverance. And although setting a positive example remains a focus, I think I’ve widened my definition to be less rigid and more about sharing ways I try to carve out a balance that is right for me and encouraging others to do the same.”

Learn more about being a part of the womenmind community https://ow.ly/ZEgi50S9Sfv

Following the UnMasked event yesterday we asked Rachel Garbutt, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer for her insights on why she supports CAMH and womenmind community:

“I joined the CAMH community as a corporate partner through our company, Dotti. Our mission is to inspire clean homes and healthy minds with a deep commitment to supporting mental health.

As a woman who struggles with depression, anxiety and ADHD, I experience firsthand the knowledge gap in women’s mental health. When we realized how underfunded women’s mental health was, it was an easy choice to become part of the solution with womenmind.

Today, we donate $1 from every order to CAMH’s womenmind, a specialized philanthropic group dedicated to advancing Women’s Mental Health. I’ve been fortunate to also sit on this year’s UnMasked Committee to raise funds for CAMH Foundation.

My mentality around successful leadership has grown dramatically to embrace all the benefits of female leadership, including empathy, agility, balance and community support.”

Learn more about being a part of the womenmind community at https://ow.ly/xgfS50S9ROp

Last week we celebrated that naming of the Temerty Discovery Centre, which will unite CAMH's research programs under one roof, spurring and accelerating new breakthroughs that transform the future of mental health.

Through the Temerty Discovery Centre, patients and families will have safe, dignified spaces to participate in research studies, and proximity to patient care areas will enable new discoveries to be seamlessly and rapidly put into practice to improve people's lives.

In conversation with Valerie Pringle, panelists Dr. Aristotle Voineskos, Dr. Omair Husain and Shelley Hofer, discussed the impact and reach possible with philanthropy and their hopes for the future. The opportunity to advance research and the importance of early youth intervention.

We also recognized our incredible community of ambassadors and advocates who inspire and support CAMH. By sharing their stories, they’ve played a role in busting stigma and bringing mental illness out of the shadows, shining a light on rarely discussed issues like su***de and addiction. They remind people they’re not alone.

“I feel important enough to be saved.” – Shelley Hofer, CAMH Patient and Mental Health Advocate.

Together we are building a future where no one is left behind.

Thank you to our generous sponsors for rising with us to make Sunrise Challenge possible. Together, we can fuel research breakthroughs, accelerate the pace of discovery and show people with mental illness that they're not alone.

CIBC
Peace Collective
Microsoft
Starbucks Canada
RFA

Thank you all for RISING with us this year. There’s still time to fundraise for . Fundraising will remain open through June 30.

Help us reach $1 million to help transform care and fuel discoveries in mental illness and addiction.

Together we can change mental health care forever.

Donate today at https://ow.ly/bMI650S4qnF

What’s your reason to rise?

Today’s Sunrise and Shine on CAMH features Dr. Marta Maslej, a staff scientist with The Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics at CAMH, and co-lead of the Predictive Care Team.

Today she shares her insight on how the integration of AI will impact the way that patients and providers experience care.

Watch to learn more about Dr. Maslej's research at https://ow.ly/aPOX50RU4jl

Today’s Sunrise and Shine on CAMH video features Dr. Alexia Polillo, a Project Scientist with the Slaight Centre for Youth in Transition at CAMH. Her research focuses on ways to improve care for youth mental health.

Today she shares her insight on social media’s impact on anxiety and depression in young people.

Watch to learn more about Dr. Polillo’s research at https://ow.ly/3SPp50RU3q6

For today’s Sunrise and Shine, Dr. Colin Hawco, Scientist in the Brain Health Imaging Centre at CAMH, is looking at how we may get a clearer understanding of illnesses like schizophrenia and depression.

Watch to learn more about Dr. Hawco’s research at https://ow.ly/J9Zc50RU38M

For today’s Sunrise and Shine, Head of the Bipolar Integrated Care Pathways at CAMH, Dr. Abigail Ortiz’s research focuses on understanding mood regulation and bipolar disorder through specialized techniques and how we may be able to forecast episodes of mental illness.

Watch to learn more about Dr. Ortiz’s research at https://ow.ly/LC2b50RU2RK