CAMH

CAMH is proud to announce award funding for 8 projects as part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research | Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (CIHR) Project Grant Spring 2026 competition. Here are the Nominated Principal Applicants, and their projects:

As more Canadians live with dementia, we need a thoughtful and consistent approach to managing the complex and distressing symptoms that can come with it. A new cross-provincial clinical trial led by researchers at CAMH has found that a new Integrated Care Pathway (ICP), a structured, algorithm-based approach developed at CAMH for treating agitation in people with dementia, can reduce medication overuse without sacrificing effectiveness. The ICP prioritizes personalized non-pharmacological interventions, followed by the careful and sequential introduction of evidence-based medications only when necessary. In the 12-week, double-blind randomized controlled Standardizing Care for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Dementia (StaN) trial, patients receiving the ICP-based care used significantly fewer psychiatric medications without affecting their outcomes. “This finding is especially clinically meaningful as it demonstrates it’s possible to take patients off unnecessary medications without worsening agitation in dementia. This study gives us the foundation to expand the ICP into community-based settings, such as long-term care homes, where the need—and the opportunity—is far greater,”  explains Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Scientist and Medical Head of Geriatric Clinical Research within the Adult Neurodevelopmental and Geriatric Psychiatry Division at CAMH. For the more than 772,000 Canadians currently living with dementia and their families, the findings provide hope and highlight that a thoughtful, consistent care approach can ease agitation while using fewer medications, thereby reducing the risk of side effects and supporting safer and compassionate care. 🔗Read more: https://lnkd.in/evGXCWHP

Over 80 attendees from across the province gathered at CAMH for the first in-person event for the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs Community of Practice. The event was hosted by the Provincial System Support Program (PSSP) at CAMH in partnership with Ontario Health | Santé Ontario's Mental Health and Addiction Centre of Excellence. HART Hubs are community-based initiatives designed to help connect people experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance use challenges to housing, primary care and other services based on local community needs. Representatives from HART Hubs across Ontario shared lessons learned, exchanged ideas and discussed how they're working with local partners to support integrated, person-centred care in their communities. We were pleased to welcome the Honourable Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, alongside valued community and health system leaders for a day of collaboration, partnership and shared learning. Thank you to everyone who contributed to a day of thoughtful discussion, shared learning and new connections. We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen mental health and addictions care across Ontario.

Today on #SelfCareDay, we're reminded to take all the opportunities to look after ourselves - physically, emotionally and mentally. Here are some tips submitted by youth advisors from our old GameChangers series of events, where youth engagement specialists met online with, students and teachers in classroom settings to talk candidly about #mentalhealth. What are some self-care tips you use to help maintain your mental health?

Recently we shared a study by Dr. Jeffrey Meyer highlighting findings suggesting that Long COVID is a disorder of the brain's dopamine system. The story was picked up by a number of news outlets, including Forbes. Click here to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eZUt4SXr

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Canadian Men's National Soccer Team player Promise David to CAMH. We asked him to talk about the importance of mental health in his journey. Here's what he said.

Access to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment has expanded across Ontario, improving access to care for adults living with treatment-resistant depression. Meet our incredible rTMS technicians, who provide expert care to clients throughout their treatment, helping support recovery and improving access to life-changing care. Q: Over the course of treatment, you build close relationships with clients. What has it been like to support them and witness their progress from their first appointment through to their last? A: One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing participants every day throughout their treatment. When someone starts rTMS, they're often feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure if anything will help. Because we see them so regularly, we have the opportunity to build trust and create a supportive and safe environment where they feel comfortable sharing how they're doing. It's definitely rewarding to see the changes that can happen over several weeks. Sometimes it's gradual—a client smiles more, starts making future plans, or tells us they're enjoying activities again. Other times it's hearing them say they're finally sleeping better, returning to work, or spending quality time with their family, or start talking more with their them. Of course, not every journey is the same, and progress looks different for every individual. But being there to encourage them through both the difficult days and the successful ones is something I value deeply. Sometimes, you're not only the technician running the treatment protocol; it's your empathy and understanding, and supporting that help patients feel more comfortable coming in every day and completing their treatment. Knowing that you've helped someone through one of the hardest periods of their life is truly a privilege. (Nasim Kiaee) Q: Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of rTMS and the difference it can make for people living with treatment-resistant depression? A: I hope rTMS continues to grow as an accessible and well-recognized treatment option. Ultimately, I hope it helps more people find relief, regain hope, and improve their quality of life. (Gizelle Suginawan) A: Coming from a background in rTMS research, we are also developing ways to improve treatment protocols and I have hope that in the future, rTMS protocols will become more effective and help more people benefit (Madison Khan) A: I hope more people can experience what I've been lucky enough to see: people who come in feeling hopeless and, over time, start to feel like themselves again. Seeing them with hope, reconnect with their loved ones, and enjoy life again is incredibly rewarding for me. Being a small part of that journey is what makes this work so meaningful and enjoyable to me. (Nasim Kiaee) To learn more about access to rTMS treatment at CAMH or in the Toronto Region, visit www.camh.ca/rtms

🏥 How can thoughtful hospital design transform forensic mental health care? Join us for Healing Behind Secure Walls: Global Forensic Hospital Design Conference on October 1–2, 2026, hosted by CAMH, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. 📅 October 1–2, 2026 📍 Toronto, Canada + Online Click the link to register: https://lnkd.in/gNhBgyc9 Together, we'll explore how evidence-based design can create safer, more therapeutic forensic mental health environments that promote recovery, dignity, staff well-being, and system innovation. Register today and join us in reimagining healing behind secure walls. Please share this post with colleagues and networks who are passionate about healthcare design, mental health, architecture, and innovation.

Wildfire smoke can affect more than our physical health. For some people, seeing hazy or orange skies and experiencing repeated climate emergencies can bring up fear, grief, anger or anxiety about the future. These feelings are understandable. Taking small, meaningful actions can help restore a sense of agency and support your mental well-being: • Check in with yourself and reach out for support when you need it. • Stay connected with family, friends, community and the land. • Focus on actions within your control • Consider getting involved in a local environmental or community initiative. • Follow local air-quality guidance and adjust outdoor activities when necessary. Some people may be more affected by climate-related distress, including young people, Indigenous Peoples, people with existing mental illness and communities experiencing poverty, racism or other forms of inequity. Learn more about climate change and mental health from CAMH: www.camh.ca/climatechange For current air-quality conditions and health guidance, visit Environment and Climate Change Canada: https://lnkd.in/e45SFNdG

Mental illness is one of the strongest predictors of heat-related deaths. As extreme heat events become more frequent, CAMH researchers are working with hospital, academic, and community partners to better understand why some communities are disproportionately affected and how to implement supports that meet people where they are. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ep44a_WM