Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. More than 300 million people around the world are now living with depression (WHO). Thankfully, international researchers are working on better understanding this important issue. Here are summaries and talking points from four brand-new studies on depression. Can you imagine how these research finding could inform your work?

"...the ninth-lowest obesity rate in the world and the third-longest expectancy for a healthy life, you could be forgiven for thinking that South Korea is some sort of wellness paradise. However, South Korea has one of the worst mental health problems in the industrialized world."

Researchers have developed a cellphone app that uses sonar to monitor someone's breathing rate and sense when an opioid overdose has occurred.

Tragically, there were 2,066 apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada between January and June 2018; 94% were accidental. During an overdose, a person breathes slower or stops breathing altogether. These symptoms are reversible with the drug naloxone if caught in time. But people who use opioids by themselves have no way of asking for help in the event of an overdose.

Widely used physical health drugs may help treat serious mental illness

Summary: Medications commonly used to combat physical health diseases, such as high blood pressure, could bring significant benefits to people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or non-affective psychoses, according to a large cohort study.

Check out our new podcast series ReInspired where we dive into one research article at a time to understand why it’s important and how it might impact people’s lives. Throughout the series, we will explore different mental health and addictions topics and how you can apply the research to your work.

I was in England over the Christmas break and the topic of screen time for children came up, which caught my attention for both personal and work reasons.  The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says parents should take a balanced  approach to screen time and that it cannot be prescriptive.  This is different from Canadian guidance which recommends no screen time for children under 2 and only one hour a day for children 2-4 years old.

Age-related hearing loss is the third-most common chronic condition in older adults. The condition is known to raise the risk of other conditions, such as cognitive impairment and dementia. But there are few large studies asking whether hearing loss may lead to depression in the elderly.

The researchers analyzed health data from 5,239 individuals over age 50 who were enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Each participant had a hearing test and was screened for depression.

Just in time for the new year! New research shows that taking part in Dry January (where you don't drink alcohol in  January) sees people regaining control of their drinking, having more energy, better skin and losing weight. They also report drinking less months later.

In collaboration with the Provincial System Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and the Ministry of Education, School Mental Health ASSIST has developed an info sheet for parents/guardians and caregivers on the topic of cannabis.

The info sheet contains facts on cannabis, information on cannabis legalization, the health and social effects of cannabis use on children and youth, as well as where to find support and additional information.