Media Advisory - Public Forum: Improving mental health and addictions treatment in Niagara

WELLAND, ON, Oct. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) will host a public forum to present recent study findings to the Niagara Region community.

During 2011, a series of pilot studies were conducted in Port Colborne and Welland using Canada's first mobile research laboratory to study mental health, substance use and violence. This research is part of the Researching Health in Ontario Communities (RHOC) project headed by CAMH Scientist Dr. Samantha Wells.

Results will be presented on these projects:

• The Consumer Journey: Approximately 60 individuals with mental health and/or substance use problems who had sought help for their problems—"consumers" - and an additional 25 family members of consumers shared their stories about accessing and receiving services in the Niagara area.
• Intimate Partner Communication and Conflict: Researchers interviewed 31 women and 25 men aged 19 to 29 about the types of conflict they had experienced in relationships, including physical and non-physical conflict.
• Stress and Mental Health: Levels of stress, depression, substance use, and social support were measured in a general population sample.

Date:	Wednesday, October 3
Time:	Media interviews: 9:30 - 10 am; Presentations: 10 am - 12 pm
Location:	Rose Room, Best Western Rose City Suites, 300 Prince Charles Drive South, Welland, ON

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 its field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit www.camh.ca.

SOURCE: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Media contact: Kate Richards; [phone]; [email protected]