Are normal, expected bouts of sadness becoming “medicalized” and are we in turn medicating large portions of the population across varying age bands?

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Montridge Educational Breakfast Series

The Medicalization of Unhappiness

JUNE 20, 2018
8:00 - 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30 AM Presentation
UBC Robson Square

In both the general & employee populations, the medical & social landscape around mental illness has led to the proliferation of diagnoses and the widespread prescribing of anti-depressants. Are we medicalizing normal, expected bouts of sadness?  How is this affecting employee benefit plans across Canada? Are there other strategies for care that would better help? Where do therapy and wellness professionals fit in? What are the options available and what are the statistics that support these options?

About the Speaker

Peter Gove is the Innovation Leader of Green Shield Canada’s Health Management team.  GSC’s Change4Life™ program utilizes advanced analytics to proactively identify benefit plan participants who are at risk of developing, or who have developed a chronic disease and to reach out to them with focused programs.

Mr. Gove has a master’s degree in social work and is a registered social worker. He has presented internationally in the areas of health management and disability management and was the recipient of the 2014 Vision and Values Award presented by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.

Peter examines the history of mental illness in Canada, how it has been treated, and/or gone untreated, as well as the consequences of the practices that have prevailed. He will zero in on the changing medical and social landscape that has led to the proliferation of mental health diagnoses and the widespread prescribing of anti-depressants.

Contact Shelley Lai, shelley@montridge.com or 682-1603, Ext. 224 if you have questions about this seminar.