Meet some authors of the new book, The Push to Prescribe, for an online discussion about women and Canadian drug policy

WATCH THE WEBINAR! (recorded Wednesday Nov. 4, 2009)

Drugs are produced, regulated, marketed, and used in ways that affect many aspects of everyday life. The nature and extent of these effects, and their special meaning for women, are at the core of the The Push to Prescribe (Women’s Press, 2009). Editor Anne Rochon Ford and contributors Colleen Fuller and Abby Lippman presented key issues from the book and responded to questions from participants.

For more information on The Push to Prescribe, visit http://www.nnewh.org/article.php?itemID=49&section=1 

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Production of this webinar has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

WATCH THE WEBINAR! (recorded Thursday Oct. 29, 2009)

Presenter: Dr. Barbara Mintzes, Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, UBC Centre for Health Services & Policy Research, and Steering Committee member, Women and Health Protection

Antidepressants are increasingly being used to treat depression in pregnancy in Canada despite their lack of approval for this use by Health Canada or the US FDA. Recent scientific and public attention has focused on an increased risk for infants, and this has led to conflicting advice about the use of SSRI/SNRI antidepressants (such as Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, or other related drugs) during pregnancy. Some suggest avoiding all exposures, while others recommend use in order to avoid harm to mothers and infants from untreated depression.

Mintzes presents what she and colleagues found in a systematic evaluation of all available studies comparing women with depression who did or did not take antidepressants during pregnancy. Their goal was to find an answer to the controversial and urgent clinical question: do pregnant women benefit from taking antidepressants?

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Production of this webinar has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

This issue of Network focuses on why and how gender matters in mental health in Canada—a high priority in our work at the Canadian Women’s Health Network and the Centres of Excellence for Women’s Health.

With the Mental Health Commission of Canada currently shining the spotlight on mental health issues across the country, we have the opportunity to further promote and advance sex- and gender-based analysis of mental health care in this country. In January 2009 the Commission released its first draft framework of a Canadian mental health strategy for public discussion: Toward Recovery and Well-Being: A Framework for a Mental Health Strategy in Canada. Unfortunately, the Commission’s newly released strategy does not yet include a sex- and gender-based analysis. See the full issue here!

By the Ad Hoc Working Group on Women, Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addictions

Originally published by CWHN in May 2006 prior to the tabling of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology’s final report Out of the Shadows at Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness, and Addiction Services in Canada, this report by the Ad Hoc Working Group discusses why sex and gender matter in mental health and addictions and includes information and recommendations for the new Mental Health Commission of Canada. To date, the Commission has not addressed sex and gender in their work, highlighting the importance and relevance of the document to this day. Also, for the first time, this report is available in French, under the title, Les femmes, la santé mentale, les maladies mentales et la toxicomanie au Canada: tour d’horizon.

Read the report >>>

What People Need to Know about Psychiatric Drugs

By E. Daisy Anderson and Janet Currie

Psychiatric Medication Awareness Group (PMAG) (Revised 2009)

See review on pg 34 of Network >>>

Girl Disrupted: Hormone Disrupters and Women's Reproductive Health

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment, California (January 2009)

Read report >>>