Researchers Help Demystify Mental Illness

Although one person in five suffers from a mental health problem, mental illness is often seen as a shameful subject. In honour of the Douglas Hospital Research Centre’s 25th Anniversary, our researchers will attempt to explain and demystify mental illness for the general public. Free educational activities, geared to people of all ages, will be available from May 19 to the end of the year.

Movie Nights and Discussions with Researchers
Over four consecutive weeks, we will show four major films that deal with a variety of mental health subjects. These films will be presented in their original language on the large screen located in the Douglas Hall amphitheatre, located at 6875 LaSalle Blvd. in Verdun. Each film will be introduced by a researcher who specializes in the subject explored in the film. After each showing, the audience will be invited to participate in a bilingual discussion and ask questions.

Wednesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.
As Good As It Gets (with French subtitles)
Presented by Jens Pruessner, PhD, a researcher specializing in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m.
A Beautiful Mind
Presented by Ridha Joober, MD, PhD, a researcher specializing in schizophrenia

Wednesday, June 2, 6:30 p.m.
The Hours (with French subtitles)
Presented by Gustavo Turecki, MD, PhD, a researcher specializing in suicide

Wednesday, June 9, 6:30 p.m.
Born on the Fourth of July
Presented by Alain Brunet, PhD, a researcher specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder

Douglas Hospital Research Centre Open House
On Saturday June 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the general public is invited to visit the Research Centre’s Lehmann and Frank B. Common Pavilions, located on the Douglas Hospital grounds at 6875 LaSalle Blvd. in Verdun. Visitors will meet researchers with expertise in a number of mental health areas. They will also have the opportunity to see real brains – the most complex tool of the human being; understand why we study Ice Storm babies; play a 3D computer game and learn about spatial memory; and better understand how stress affects brain aging. They will also explore the area of genetics and its influence on our mental health…and more!

Free Fall Lectures

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, a New York Times Bestseller
On September 30, there will be a lecture (in English) by Andrew Solomon, author of the book entitled The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, at the Mount Royal Centre Auditorium, located at 2200 Mansfield St. in downtown Montreal. After having experienced depression, this New York writer wrote The Noonday Demon, which was on the New York Times bestseller list. Translated into 21 languages, the book won several awards and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. This lecture was organized by the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, in collaboration with AMI Québec, Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

On the following day, October 1, at 7:00 p.m., Andrew Solomon will be available for an autograph signing session at Indigo, located at 1500 McGill College Ave. (corner of Ste-Catherine St.).

When We Should Reset Our Biological Clocks, a Lecture on Sleep
Our mental and physical capacities are controlled by internal biological clocks. Time disruptions to our daily rhythms cause sleep, alertness, and mood problems. The situation has important repercussions for our mental and physical health. Diane Boivin, MD, PhD, researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, will present a lecture on sleep problems on November 3, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in Douglas Hall, located at 6875 LaSalle Blvd. Not to be missed.

Information

Florence Meney
Media Relation
Communications and public affairs
Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell.: 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca