Every year, Women in Mind brings together 200 leading researchers and care providers for one of Canada’s only academic conferences devoted to women’s mental health.
“It is wonderful to see so many professionals here today who are dedicated to providing the best possible mental health care for women across our community,” said Joanne Bezzubetz, President and CEO of The Royal, in her opening remarks.
“I don’t have to tell you how important this is. You know that women face unique challenges and societal pressures that need to be factored into our approaches to treatment and recovery.”
Overall, women experience mental illness in significantly different ways than men, in part due to being at higher risk of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and exploitation, and mental health concerns surrounding reproduction. Understanding these differences is essential for today’s healthcare professionals, who are the first line of support for women with mental illness.
"We want to create a future in which care meets people where they are; that’s what a hospital without walls means to us."This year’s conference focused on “Celebrating Treatment and Recovery in Women’s Mental Health,” and examined practical tools for treatment, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, peer support, and interpersonal therapy; as well as other factors that impact mental health, such as dual diagnoses, trauma, and sexual exploitation. Two researchers shared what we know about gender and the brain, and why it’s essential to approach research through the lens of gender.
- Dr. Natalia Jaworska, a researcher at The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research, shared the current state of research when it comes to sex differences in the brain itself, including the sexist biases of some research assumptions and the problems with excluding women from studies during their reproductive years.
- Tara Leach, clinical director of H.E.A.L.T.H. Clinic, which provides health care to people at risk of being or who have been trafficked, shared advice on how to identify a person at risk and provide exploitation- and trauma-informed care, as well as appropriate referrals and advocacy.
- Anita Manley, Glenda O’Hara, and Victoria Higgins shared their experience and knowledge surrounding the importance of mental health peer support for women.
- Dr. Susan Farrell and Michelle Heggison of The Royal’s Community Mental Health Program shared advice for working with patients who have a dual diagnosis – a mental illness as well as an intellectual disability. They shared valuable communication strategies and psychosocial considerations when working with dually diagnosed women.
- Dr. Valerie Taylor, head of the Department of Psychiatry at University of Calgary, discussed why sex and gender matters in psychiatry, especially when it comes to research.
- Dr. Nicola Wright, a psychologist in The Royal’s Schizophrenia and Recovery Program, shared her expertise in using cognitive behavioural therapy to treat psychosis in women.
- Dr. Jasmine Gandhi, who leads the perinatal mental health program at The Ottawa Hospital, shared the benefits of interpersonal therapy for mothers experiencing mental illness.
- Sara Richardson-Brown shared the power of art as a wellness tool. She presented a similar topic at Conversations at The Royal earlier this year – here’s the video.
Supporting and collaborating with care providers in our community has long been part of The Royal’s mandate, but it’s especially important now as it moves towards the new vision of being a “hospital without walls.”
“We want to create a future in which care meets people where they are; that’s what a hospital without walls means to us,” said Bezzubetz.
“Partnerships and collaboration are key to this vision. The Royal isn’t the only player in mental health care, nor should we be. We are an organization of mental health experts working alongside other health care and social service providers here and throughout the community.”