Though I am thrilled with the attention mental health has received in recent years and with the pandemic, the pendulum is swinging far in the direction of labeling everything a mental illness.  In my practice, I am seeing more and more situational stressors that manifest, very reasonably, with anxiety and

One of the coolest things about working abroad, is seeing how different places tackle similar social issues.  I came to Auckland, New Zealand, eager to compare its mental health care system with the one in my hometown of Ottawa, Canada. Here are my observations so far. Difference #1: Access to

Warning: This article mentions self-harm and suicide Somewhere along the line, mental health diagnoses and the subsequent prescribing of medications began following cultural trends rather than objective science. Pharmaceutical companies have played a massive role in this shift, spinning a highly profitable narrative: that unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and existential discomfort

I am closing my practice down for the next 24 months.  In so doing, I am saying good-bye to all of my patients and colleagues.  And though 24 months is not a very long time, it is just long enough to question if I am returning at all, and

It was never the people.  Most of the clinicians I have worked with were amazing and did their best.  It might be cliche, but it was “the system” that broke me, the faceless, omnipotent, patriarchal institutions that made up the mental health system in Ottawa.  It took me a long

So you have decided you want to tackle your anxiety.  It has simply taken up too much of your life.  Whether your anxiety manifests as uncontrollable thoughts that put you on edge, physical symptoms like shortness of breath and crushing chest pain, or a combination of the two, anxiety robs

It has taken me a while to write this article about ADHD. Even though this diagnosis has exploded in the population, there is a lack of ADHD training in most psychiatric residencies, so taking this on as a staff psychiatrist has been daunting. When I first entered practice, my instinct

All psychoeducation about anxiety begins with how anxiety is actually adaptive and protective.  Anxiety is what alerts us to danger and helps us survive.  The classic example is how our ancestors needed anxiety to detect and respond to predators and other dangers.  Without anxiety, we would not be here today.

I was accidentally referred a 13-year-old girl for psychiatric assessment. When she arrived, I would not have known she was 13 until I looked in her chart. She looked much older. A little flustered, I told the mother that I was not a child psychiatrist. She was aware

She does not believe she is sick.   Even with her sister supervising, Rita has stopped taking her medication.  Hours after Rita's first dose, her sister finds half-dissolved tablets in tissues hidden all around the bedroom. In the appointment Rita looks guarded and defensive.  My heart sinks.  I

There are a series of clinics across Canada and internationally whose sole purpose is to treat patients with first episode psychosis. Here in Ottawa, our first episode psychosis program, aka FEPP, is made up of a multidisciplinary team including nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, and other allied health. These clinics were

Psychiatry deals with the intangible parts of the brain; some might call it the mind. And how we know the mind exists, how the mind most commonly communicates to its owner is by having thoughts. In health, our thoughts serve a purpose. They help us to understand, to connect and

Documentation in my job, meaning writing my clinical notes and filling out other necessary paperwork (e.g. Notes for patients' work or school, government forms etc.) takes up an additional 1-2 hours of my day. What this looks like is I typically see patients from 9-5pm leaving

What is a therapist but someone trying to figure out who she is in the context of you, the patient? What I love about therapy are the important questions that arise that are fundamental to all of us and our well-being. Questions about connection and being understood, questions about

Patients seek out mental health services with the hopes of feeling better.  I see it as the job of the clinician to help patients understand better why they are feeling as they do; to help patients organize what must feel chaotic and distressing.  Most importantly, mental health clinicians try to

There are so many moments where I feel demoralized, exhausted and unappreciated.  So it is important that I recognize when I am feeling better about myself and the work.  It warrants some time and space also. Today I am feeling grateful and honored that I get to do what I

Please consider joining me in writing to your member of parliament (can be found here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en), regarding legislation regulating/banning surveillance capitalism. My MP is the honorable David McGuinty. Here is what I have sent to him, please feel free to use it as a

"Did I even stand a chance?" I think to myself.  If I were to talk to my younger self, with what I know now, would I have said anything?  Probably not.  What is there to say to a younger, less experienced, idealistic version of myself?  Perhaps I would

I am seeing a woman who has a progressive terminal illness. She is 80 years old and has outlasted her prognosis by 10 years. Since I started seeing her 3 years ago, I have seen the steady decline of her physical being. In the last 6 months, the cognitive decline

I see many people through their journeys from illness to wellness. A big sign that someone is not doing well and the severity of their symptoms, is when they have taken time off work. I am often consulted when what was initially supposed to be a two-week break, has

It can be difficult to put into words why I have found my psychiatric training and how standard psychiatry is practiced today lacking. On one end, we have smart, compassionate, well-meaning, highly trained clinicians and on the other end, we have motivated patients wanting help. Both of whom want