At some point in their lives, all Canadians are likely to be affected by mental illness, whether through their own struggle or that of a family member, friend or colleague.
They’re the soldier returning from Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder, the successful businesswoman who suffers from panic attacks but is afraid to talk about them, the next door neighbor struggling with severe post-partum depression or the middle-aged bank manager who is losing his battle with mental illness, cannot hold a job and is running out of money and hope.
These are the faces of people who need a safe place where they can get the help they need and be treated with care, dignity and respect.
Mental illness can wreak havoc on families, workplaces, health care and the justice system.
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Every day in Canada, 500,000 workers are off sick with mental health problems
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Depression is ranked first among the leading causes of disability in the world
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Mental illness costs the Canadian economy an estimated $51 billion annually
Despite its prevalence and the cost in suffering and dollars, mental illness remains shrouded in stigma. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is leading the way toward accepting mental illness for what it is – just another medical condition for which people need professional treatment in a modern, welcoming healthcare environment.
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is a leader in mental health and addiction care. Our reputation is based on the quality of care provided to our patients, the expertise of our staff, the innovative nature of our programs and the pioneering quality of our research.
SJHH’s Mental Health and Addiction Program is unique in North America. We provide a continuum of services from primary care, through emergency and acute services, to highly specialized tertiary programs, and offer a comprehensive variety of clinics and outpatient services providing highly specialized care to thousands of patients every year.
SJHH’s Womankind Addiction Service is one of three women-only withdrawal management services in Ontario.
The Cleghorn Program is a specialty program designed to meet the needs of young people who are experiencing psychotic symptoms (for example, hearing voices and having paranoid thoughts) for the first time.
The Women's Health Concerns Clinic (WHCC) provides assessment, consultation and treatment for women who are experiencing mood problems related to the menstrual cycle, childbearing or menopause. The WHCC also conducts clinical and biological research in these areas.
For more information on current programs or to find out how to get help, click here.