David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
New Calgary research centre to focus on mental illness
CBC News
Friday, November 28, 2008
The University of Calgary has announced the creation of a new centre devoted to research and education in mental health.
The centre is a partnership between the university, Alberta Health Services and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. The school is allocating $2 million to equip and staff the centre, while another $2 million has come from community donations.
Dr. Glenda MacQueen, an expert in mood disorders and changes in the brain, was recruited from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., to lead the Mental Health Centre for Research and Education.
"Almost every psychiatric illness develops before age 20. If we can educate youth about what they are experiencing and break the stigma around mental illness, they may be more willing to seek help when problems first begin," she said Friday, pointing out one in five Canadians experiences a mental illness in their lifetime.
The centre will specialize in prevention, detection and early intervention in mental illnesses including depression, schizophrenia, and addictions.
"What are the first warning signs? What do people need to be aware of? ? We think that by focusing at that end of the spectrum, we'll be able to recognize the illnesses earlier and ultimately we'll be able to intervene and prevent them from going on to be chronic and so costly," said MacQueen, who will act as the centre's interim director.
CBC News
Friday, November 28, 2008
The University of Calgary has announced the creation of a new centre devoted to research and education in mental health.
The centre is a partnership between the university, Alberta Health Services and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. The school is allocating $2 million to equip and staff the centre, while another $2 million has come from community donations.
Dr. Glenda MacQueen, an expert in mood disorders and changes in the brain, was recruited from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., to lead the Mental Health Centre for Research and Education.
"Almost every psychiatric illness develops before age 20. If we can educate youth about what they are experiencing and break the stigma around mental illness, they may be more willing to seek help when problems first begin," she said Friday, pointing out one in five Canadians experiences a mental illness in their lifetime.
The centre will specialize in prevention, detection and early intervention in mental illnesses including depression, schizophrenia, and addictions.
"What are the first warning signs? What do people need to be aware of? ? We think that by focusing at that end of the spectrum, we'll be able to recognize the illnesses earlier and ultimately we'll be able to intervene and prevent them from going on to be chronic and so costly," said MacQueen, who will act as the centre's interim director.
