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Summer 2009 | Vol 12 No 4

A view from CAMH

Dr. Kwame McKenzie

We all know the facts: Approximately 350,000 Canadians live with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Each year there are 31,000 hospitalizations – more than 2.3 million hospital days – and direct and indirect costs over $7 billion. But these costs do not adequately reflect the impact of the illness on individuals and their families. Recent studies have reported that people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia are more likely to develop physical illness. This results in a lifespan shortened by up to 15 per cent.

This is grim reading, but there is hope on the horizon. Medication has improved the outlook for many through symptom control. But there is now a resurgence of interest in the wider factors that can improve outcomes for people with serious mental health problems. The aim is to move on from a target of symptoms reduction towards recovery.

This is happening at various levels. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has embraced recovery and family and consumer involvement as important facets of its vision of care. The MHCC has recently finished the consultation process on the goals for its national strategy and it looks very exciting.

Similarly, David Caplan, the minister of Health and Long-Term Care for Ontario, is developing a 10-year plan that will look at system redesign and access to care, as well as communities and supporting the workforce to improve outcomes for people with serious mental health issues. In line with this and like many top centres worldwide, CAMH’s Schizophrenia Program has embraced the concept of recovery. It is actively developing a number of new initiatives that diversify the treatment available, and some, such as the new cognitive-behavioural therapy service, are already seeing clients.

I am proud, and indeed lucky, to be able to be brought into the fold at CrossCurrents at a time when there is so much change and renewal.

Kwame McKenzie, MD, MRCPSYCH (UK)
Executive Editor, CrossCurrents;
Senior Scientist, Social Equity and Health Research Section, CAMH;
Deputy Director, Schizophrenia Program, CAMH
Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto