TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2017 
Launched today at an event during the first week of classes at the University of Toronto, the Global Coalition on Youth Mental Health will engage the mental health community to amplify the many voices advocating for youth mental health worldwide. The Coalition is an inclusive, youth-inspired initiative that asks leading mental health organizations, young people experiencing mental illness, and their communities to share the Coalition’s and its partners’ supportive social media messages, empowering young leaders to be mental health advocates. The Coalition was developed by a Steering Committee with members from Jack.org, the University of Toronto, iFred, batyr, and the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.

“It is critical to engage youth in mental health efforts, because the majority of these conditions manifest by the age of 24,” said Janine Robb, Executive Director, Health and Wellness, University of Toronto. “The Coalition invites mental health organizations, advocates, and individuals to join us and share messages that reach people during this pivotal time when they are beginning to build independent lives and careers. We are engaging mental health organizations in Canada and around the globe to join a community that will amplify constructive social media voices and share resources for young people.”

Beginning at the launch, the Coalition asks organizations, advocates, and individuals to share positive social media messages using the hashtag, #195forMentalHealth. The hashtag represents the question: what if all 195 countries prioritized youth mental health? The campaign will focus on helping its member organizations amplify each other’s social voices and activate the voice of young people across the world, initially in Canada and advancing to include other countries. By doing so, the Coalition hopes to create a groundswell that global leaders cannot ignore, prompting a much-needed focus on youth mental health.

“This is an important moment for the mental health community, and we are inspired to be a part of this collaboration,” said Eric Windeler, Founder & Executive Director, Jack.org, a Canadian network of young leaders in mental health. “The Coalition is in no way intended to compete with or replace the great work happening around the world. Rather, it hopes to serve as a social movement designed to amplify the importance of our collective work, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of best-practices globally. If we can all work together our messages will be louder, and mental wellbeing of youth across the world will be better off for it.”

Members of the Steering Committee announced the Coalition’s launch today at the University of Toronto, at an event held to coincide with the first week of classes. Organizations in Canada and other countries participated in person and virtually. The Steering Committee developed the strategic framework for the Coalition and planned its initial activities in collaboration with those affected by mental illness, academic institutions, healthcare leadership, social media influencers, and mental health organizations and networks. The Coalition invites members of the mental health community to join its efforts by signing onto the Coalition and sharing the social media messages of the Coalition and its partners throughout the year. Sign on at www.ymentalhealth.org 

“The Coalition will help organizations create an energized, vocal community that is committed to combatting stigma and improving mental health responses,” said Craig Kramer, Mental Health Ambassador, Neuroscience External Affairs, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and Chair, Global Campaign for Mental Health, Johnson & Johnson. “The key is the Coalition’s strategy of directly engaging mental health leaders and unleashing their ability to drive meaningful change, both among youth and in society overall. We envision the Coalition to be a sustained engine to assist progress on mental health, not just today, but in the years to come.” 

“I’m living proof that depression is treatable and suicide is preventable,” said Kathryn Goetzke, iFred Founder and President of The Mood Factory. “I see good mental health as a human right, and believe everyone deserves the ability to access and receive treatment. The sooner we reach children and young people, the more we can positively impact their mental health trajectory. Through the Coalition, we hope organizations amplify this message and encourage peers and communities to work together to end stigma, increase the reach of resources, and insist that governments and businesses prioritize mental health.”

About the Global Coalition on Youth Mental Health (www.ymentalhealth.org)
The Global Coalition on Youth Mental Health is an inclusive, youth-inspired initiative that aims to amplify the many voices on youth mental health worldwide. Around the globe, the Coalition is engaging with leading mental health organizations, young people experiencing mental illness, and the communities that support them to galvanize awareness, collaboration, and action.

About Jack.org
Jack.org trains and empowers young leaders who are revolutionizing mental health in Canada. Through Jack Talks, Jack Chapters and Jack Summits, young leaders identify and break down barriers to positive mental health in their communities. Jack.org is working towards a Canada where young people are comfortable talking about mental health, and those that need support get the help they deserve. With a national network of 2,500 young leaders, they’re only just getting started.

About the University of Toronto
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto has evolved into Canada’s leading institution of learning, discovery and knowledge creation. The University of Toronto is proud to be one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, driven to invent and innovate. Its students have the opportunity to learn from and work with preeminent thought leaders through the University’s multidisciplinary network of teaching and research faculty, alumni, and partners. The ideas, innovations, and actions of more than 500,000 graduates continue to have a positive impact on the world.

About iFred
The mission of International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred) is to shine a positive light on depression and eliminate the stigma associated with the disease through prevention, research and education. Its goal is to ensure 100% of the 350 million people affected by depression seek and receive treatment. iFred has a curriculum available free online that teaches Hope to young kids, based on research that Hope is a teachable skill.

About batyr
batyr is a for purpose organisation that focuses on preventative education in the area of youth mental health. batyr provides programs that train young people to speak about their personal experience with mental ill health and start a conversation in their community. batyr takes these speakers into schools, universities and corporate arenas to continue this conversation around mental health. The programs engage, educate and empower the audience to learn from the experiences of others and to reach out to the great services around them.

Coalition Members: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Child Mind Institute, citiesRISE, Crisis Text Line, DMAX Foundation, Flawless Foundation, IAM Prize, International Bipolar Foundation, It Gets Brighter, Kids Help Phone, Leading Minds, One Mind at Work, Project Heal, Student Minds, Teenmentalhealth.org, University College Dublin, Yale UniversityProgram for Recovery and Community Health

SOURCE Global Coalition on Youth Mental Health 

Postpartum depression has been getting some well-deserved attention lately thanks to celebrities like Chrissy Teigen who have opened up about their personal struggles with the affliction. Yet, most people do not realize that fathers can also struggle with postpartum depression.

It is estimated that around 10 percent of men report symptoms of depression following the birth of a child – that rate is double the normal rate of depression among men. While it is known that hormonal changes are to blame for postpartum depression in women, the cause for it in men has been widely unknown. But, a recent study conducted by psychologists Darby Saxbe and Robin Edelstein reveal that male testosterone may have something to do with it. They found that men’s testosterone levels dropped throughout the course of their partner’s pregnancy and of data analyzed, the men with the lowest levels of the hormone had the highest levels of depression.

Lower testosterone in men has been linked to higher rates of depression for some time. So much so that many psychiatrists have considered prescribing testosterone supplements to their depressed male patients. The link between testosterone and male postpartum depression has not been specifically studied but these findings seem to be pointing to a clear correlation.

Surprisingly, they noted a positive effect on the men’s partners. Women with low-testosterone partners reported higher relationship satisfaction and lower depression rates. Women with low-testosterone partners also reported experiencing less aggressive behaviour, such as physical or verbal violence, from their partners. Testosterone is associated with aggressive and typically masculine behaviour. Further, men with high testosterone levels reported feeling high levels of stress due to parenthood demands.

So, there are two sides to the table; men who have low levels of testosterone are at a higher risk of postpartum depression but men with high testosterone levels are at risk of having more parenting stress and less happy partners.

It may make sense for a man’s testosterone levels to drop when they have a baby – it allows them to invest more time and effort into their relationships with their child and partner. But, this is at the cost of being more susceptible to mood disorders such as depression. So, it turns out new Moms and Dads can take comfort in the fact that their postpartum emotions are completely normal and may actually have an evolutionary role to play.

At the end of the day, if you are suffering from postpartum depression for any reason at all, it is important that you find someone to talk to and that can help. Starting a family should be a time in your life filled with love – don’t let complicated hormones ruin those memories for you.

Jim Chanos, a short selling investment advisor, appeared on CNBC’s Halftime Report explaining how Amazon’s new food market partnership with Whole Foods comes after two German companies were already changing the grocery game, known as Aldi and Lidl.

“[They] should scare investors much more than Amazon,” says Chanos. “They are just disrupting the model for the East Coast and South on.”
The grocery industry has changed immensely in the US. Lidl opened 10 US stores in Virginia and the Carolinas. Likewise, Aldi has announced their five-year plan to invest $5 billion globally.

Chanos says that the grocery industry is not only seeing a decrease return on capital, but also facing “razor-thin margins,” especially since Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market which didn’t help.

“For an industry with tiny, tiny margins and then having Amazon show up with Whole Foods just was sort of the last straw,” concludes Chanos.

Target is already widely known for its affordable prices, and yet they have announced that more items, including groceries, will receive further discounts.

From cereal and baby formula to everyday toiletries and bath tissue, Target is working on offering better price points to compete in an industry that is continuously transitioning, especially with Amazon acquiring Whole Foods who have offered up to a 43 per cent price decrease on select items.

“We want our guests to feel a sense of satisfaction every time they shop at Target,” says Target vice president and chief merchandising officer Mark Tritton. “Part of that is removing the guesswork to ensure they feel confident they’re getting a great, low price every day.”

“We’ve spent months looking at our entire assortment, with a focus on offering the right price every day and simplifying our marketing to make great, low prices easy to spot, all while maintaining sales we know are meaningful to guests,” adds Tritton.

The Fresh Market has appointed Larry Appel as the new CEO. With 30 years of experience in corporate and legal strategy, as well as retail, Appel will join the 176-store chain to develop and maintain the brand’s business strategies.

Alongside Appel, The Fresh Market’s chief financial officer Brian Nicholson—who worked as the company’s temporary CEO—will be in the position of CFO.

Appel has held a number of leadership roles in his career, including the chief operations officer and head of strategy and chief legal officer at Winn-Dixie Stores Inc from 2002-2012. He then moved into a CEO position at Skeeter Snacks, LLC, a company that produces nutritious snacks. Prior, Appel was the senior vice president at The Home Depot, Inc.

“I am committed to reenergizing all that sets The Fresh Market apart as a great brand and retail store,” explains Appel. “Its heritage and history provide a strong platform in continuing to define the company as a unique ‘specialty’ grocer, offering best-in-class products and customer service. I plan to work with our teams for further elevate every aspect of our business—all with a sharp focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience every day in every store.”

According to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), there is a new FAQ report for consumers about the benefits of using naturopathic medicine for chronic pain relief instead of opioids that are hard to kick.

Licensed naturopathic doctors are taking into consideration an individual’s lifestyle and personalizing their treatment method for positive results that are safe, effective, and do not require addictive drugs. Naturopathic doctors are considering many factors, including diet, work, and past injuries. To assist with pain relief, these physicians are implementing botanical medications, and alternative supplements to combat chronic pain symptoms.

“Since 1999, the rate of overdose deaths that involved opioids nearly quadrupled, with over 183,000 people dying just from prescription opioid overdoses,” explains ND and Chair of the INM Board of Directors Michelle Simon, PhD,. “While strong pharmaceuticals and even over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) certainly have a place in treating pain, they’re not the first choice of licensed naturopathic doctors. Instead, naturopathic doctors are trained to engage the inherent healing capacities of the human body. This can include applying dietary recommendations, nutritional supplements and botanical medicines that help reduce inflammation and the pain it causes,” adds Simon.

According to a study conducted by Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, e-cigarettes prove to be effective in quit success depending on the number of days a person uses an e-cigarette within a particular time period.

“Both cigarette quit attempts and quit success were directly related to the number of days of e-cigarette use,” says the study’s lead author David Levy, PhD, professor of oncology at Georgetown Lombardi. “The odds of quit success increased by 10 per cent with each additional day of e-cigarette use.”

According to the study’s findings, cessation was higher for smokers who used an e-cigarette for five days within the last month, versus those who used an e-cigarette in the past.

“Our findings are consistent with randomized trials and those observational studies that measure frequency of e-cigarette use. These results support of the use of e-cigarette—especially, consistent use—as an effective smoking cessation aid. Since e-cigarettes are generally estimated to have a small proportion of the mortality risks of cigarettes, this represents an important life-saving intervention that doctors can recommend when other forms of treatment fail,” concludes Levy.

With Amazon acquiring Whole Foods, many organic food groceries are noting the significant price drop that Whole Foods is offering their customers, a strategy that the President of Organic Garage Matt Lurie has been implementing for years.

“Our goal is to continue to drive costs out of our system so that we can continue to be competitive on price,” Lurie tells SN.

When asked about Whole Foods and their strategies to target consumers who want natural products without the weighty price tag—an action plan that began in 2016 with their 365 program—Lurie commented that Organic Garage has already achieved those lower prices points. “I laughed when they launched that,” admits Lurie, “I said ‘that’s us.’ We’ve already been doing that here for 12 years.”

What began in 2006 with the first Organic Garage opening in Oakville Ontario, has now become a three-store chain that has a 60 percent organic roster—a percentage that most mainstream grocers don’t have.

“Those chain stores are just introducing organics to all of those conventional customers who were eating conventional stuff before and getting them onto the program,” explains Lurie, who believes that the organic trend in mainstream chains will only help to increase his in-store traffic with Organic Garage’s large organic selection. “Thus, I have a chance to acquire [those customers] at a very low cost.”

“They have A through B. We have C through Z,” says Lurie, who takes pride in Organic Garage’s extensive organic variety.

In order to keep his prices down, Lurie uses signs and low-cost alternatives instead of dietary experts and expensive equipment to communicate with his customers. In this way, Lurie can focus on prioritizing low prices to draw in clientele.

Consumers in Canada will soon be able to access Amazon’s Prime Now delivery service, which offers one and two-hour delivery service.

Amazon plans on launching as early as November in Vancouver, and will test launch in Toronto by January 2018. If everything goes well, Amazon announced that they may potentially expand the service to other Canadian cities. Prime Now is a free service offered to anyone who has a $99 annual Prime Membership.

These plans come after it was announced that Amazon would buy Whole Foods. During a presentation to their suppliers, Amazon declared that Prime Now would start to offer produce, dairy, frozen food items and personal care products.

While millennials are a fairly active generation, they tend to spend most of their time hunched over during the work week. With that said, millennials are the next generation expected to experience chronic pain. Even now, at a young age, many millennials are experiencing acute and chronic pain that’s affecting their everyday lives.

Unlike past generations, millennials manage pain differently. They would rather go through major lifestyle changes than use opioids to treat their pain, so much so that those who have used painkillers regret taking them. Even though this is a positive trend, it has revealed that many millennials lack the basic knowledge of what to do with opioids. Survey’s found that millennials are more likely to obtain painkillers inappropriately, more likely to think that it is okay to take an opioid with a prescription, and less likely to dispose of leftover painkillers safely.

The source of chronic pain is a result of the lifestyle that millennials have, including the use of technology and sport injuries. It is important that the pain is addressed before it interferes with their quality of life. When pain does occur, it is best to see the right specialist that has the expertise to treat you and help you manage the pain.

Living a healthy lifestyle and adapting to what your body needs is the best way to prevent chronic pain. Changes such as exercising, proper nutrition, and maintaining a good weight can keep millennials from dealing with the pain that previous generation are experiencing.

The following tips are provided by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) to manage your pain effectively.
• Take a break from devices and gaming
• Don’t be a weekend warrior—ease into your work out slowly and warm up your muscles.
• Remember to move when you’re in the office or studying.
• Get healthy and remove painkillers right away