Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute officially opens today at CAMH

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Research to better understand mental illness will get a boost today with the official opening of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The Institute, made possible by the historic $30 million Campbell Family gift announced last year, focuses on brain science as well as clinical research to move discoveries into the clinic as quickly as possible.

The Institute will be formally launched today at a dedication ceremony at CAMH's College Street site in Toronto. Media are invited to attend the ceremony taking place at 4:30PM at 250 College St.

Research at the institute focuses on three core areas in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness:

1. Understanding the critical pathways and circuits in the brain that are disrupted in mental illness and addiction.
2. Translating those discoveries into clinical applications to improve care.
3. Accelerating the introduction of innovative new approaches to treatment and prevention, including gene-based personalized medicine as well as non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical treatments.

"The trust that the Campbell family has placed in us recognizes the outstanding work of our scientists today and the hope that CAMH provides for tomorrow. We will improve our understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying mental illness, which will lead to new therapeutic interventions," said Dr. Bruce Pollock, Vice President of Research at CAMH. "Discovering how to keep people mentally healthy and prevent illness from developing is an important part of the vision."

"The Campbells are one of the great Canadian families and their gift is such a powerful catalyst for hope. The family believes we simply must have better treatments for people in need - and that CAMH is the ideal place to deliver on that for everyone living with mental illness," said Darrell Louise Gregersen, CAMH Foundation President and CEO.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (www.camh.ca)

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental illness and addictions.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation (www.supportcamh.ca)

CAMH Foundation raises funds to support CAMH's excellent patient care, insightful research and innovative programs to better understand, treat and prevent mental illness and addiction.

SOURCE: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Media contact:
Denise Koulis, CAMH Foundation
416.535.8501 x 34395
[email protected]