News Highlights: At the Centre Winter 2004

At the Centre

Here's a brief roundup of what's been happening lately at our Centre.

The Krembil Family Epigenetics Lab Opens

A $1 million gift from the Krembil Family Foundation has resulted in the creation of the Krembil Family Epigenetics Research Laboratory at CAMH. Increasing evidence suggests that disruption of the normal epigenetic regulation of a gene can be harmful and result in serious illness. Epigenetics is the study of how inherited, as well as environmental factors, like diet, stress and maternal nutrition, can change gene function without changing the DNA sequence. Schizophrenia, manic depression and even diseases like cancer may have been shaped by epigenetics.

An existing laboratory has been renovated and converted into a state-of-the-art facility to help translate research into improved client care and is providing a permanent home for the Epigenetics Research Program at CAMH, led by Dr. Arturas Petronis. In addition to the Krembil gift, the CAMH Epigenetics group recently received a $1 million grant from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation (OMHF) to support research in psychiatric epigenetics.

Pilot Treatment Program Established in Sault Ste. Marie

A methadone maintenance clinic pilot program opened in Sault Ste. Marie in October after several years of work by a local planning committee that was led by a consultant from CAMH's Sault Ste. Marie office. The clinic is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and is managed by the Algoma Health Unit's Community Alcohol/Drug Assessment services, which also manages the Community Needle Exchange Program.

As part of the program, a visiting physician will travel to Sault Ste. Marie every week to provide assessments and to prescribe methadone to certain clients. Another important function of this clinic is to provide training to other social and health care professionals about methadone treatment and methadone-related topics. The visiting physician will also work with local medical groups to encourage local physicians to introduce methadone treatment into their practices.

New Municipal Alcohol Policy Guide

The Municipal Alcohol Policy Guide: A Practical Resource for Successfully Managing Drinking in Recreational Settings is now available in English (with French in production). Authored by CAMH staff, the guide reflects the culmination of more than 20 years of experience and research in Municipal Alcohol Policy (MAP) development. With over half of Ontario municipalities having adopted MAPs, CAMH recognized the readiness for and interest in municipalities developing their own policies with the assistance of an effective, self-directed guide that is based on CAMH research and community experience. The MAP Guide has been produced as a binder kit with a companion CD. The latter provides sample MAPs, a MAP workbook, toolkit and other resources. CAMH has established a distribution agreement with the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association Inc. To obtain copies, contact 416-426-7062.

International Development Grant

The Community Support and Research Unit (CSRU) has received a new international development grant from the Foundation for International Training. The grant will support Baltic mental health organizations in developing their capacity to implement mental health programs in parts of the former Soviet Union. CSRU has worked for a number of years in the Baltics with agencies, helping them develop excellent programs. As part of their inclusion in the European Union, the Baltic countries are expected to become donors rather than receivers of foreign aid. The project will help build this capacity in the mental health area. The Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) will partner in the project and match the funds raised by CSRU.

Work and Substance Use Seminars

Substance use in the workplace can lead to reduced productivity and increased costs because of workplace accidents, costly operational errors, absenteeism, interpersonal conflict and disability claims. The cost to Ontario employers can total as much as $1.75 billion per year. To assist Human Resources, Occupational Health Professionals and Managers in establishing a comprehensive substance use program for their companies, the CAMH Foundation's Corporate Leaders program sponsored a seminar for employers on Work and Substance Use. Delivered by Peter Williams and Dolores Smith, both CAMH Workplace Health Consultants, the session included best practices on policy development, management training and employee education.

Future seminars in this series for Corporate Leaders include topics on dealing with anger and aggression, and depression; and how these can threaten organizational operations, productivity and safety in the workplace. For information on membership in the Corporate Leaders program, contact Karyn Samson, 416 535-8501, ext. 6285.

For further information on workshops and how they can be customized to a workplace, please contact Dolores Smith for the GTA and Southwestern Ontario at 519 833-2396, Peter Williams for Eastern and Northern Ontario at 613 569-6024,  ext. 8213 or Thomas Mathai for the rest of Canada at 416 535-8501, ext. 4632.

Pregnets - a Toolkit

CAMH has worked with a number of agencies to produce an online toolkit that provides accurate information about pregnancy and smoking as well as tips on how to quit. Designed for both healthcare professionals and pregnant women, the toolkit also helps to dispel concerns as to whether quitting smoking abruptly might cause stress to a developing baby or if choosing a milder cigarette during a pregnancy would be a safer option. Visit www.Pregnets.org for a copy of the toolkit.

Dual Diagnosis Program Clinical Director Recognized

Susan Morris, Clinical Director of the Dual Diagnosis Program, recently received the 2003 National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD) Chapter Recognition Award. Susan's work as the editor of the Habilitative Network News Bulletin has been significant in helping Ontario members of NADD stay in touch, alerting them to policy issues and communicating important information regarding dual diagnosis.

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