MONTREAL – A new book give a rare behind-the-scenes look at the largest psychiatric facility in Canada.
Toronto psychiatrist Dr. David Goldbloom returned to his hometown of Montreal to launch his new book May 11.
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How Can I Help? portrays a week in his life working as a mental health professional at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
From his poignant reminder in the first chapter that “they are us”, to his guidance on “listening for a diagnosis”, Goldbloom’s book details the life of a psychiatrist.
“This was an opportunity to shed some light, not only on the experience of mental illness, but also on the profession of people who treat those individuals,” Goldbloom said.
Dr. Goldbloom sat down with Senior Anchor Jamie Orchard to discuss his deep commitment to helping people with mental illness and his desire to break down the stigmas associated with the psychiatric profession.
He said there are multiple barriers when it comes to accessing mental health professionals, leaving many people feeling helpless and not wanting to seek help.
“The irony for me is that perhaps the way we most identify ourselves – what gives us our uniqueness – is our minds and our brains. Yet, when it comes to providing the resources necessary to help people when things go wrong, we’re not doing a great song as a country,” he said.
His focus, however, is not on the healthcare system, but how we as a society treat mental health professionals.
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Goldbloom points out the manner in which psychiatrists are portrayed in the media for negative stereotypes aimed at the profession.
We chuckle at the goofy portrayal of psychiatrists in newspaper comic strips. We fear the Hollywood stereotypes of psychiatrists who are crazier than their patients, like Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs or Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow from the Batman franchise.
Goldbloom said these kinds of portrayals hurt the profession and could ultimately discourage people from seeking help.
“My own thinking is that it’s collateral damage related to stigma towards people with mental illness,” he said. “I think that if we can demonise or lampoon psychiatrists, then surely the problems they are treating are not so serious.”
His book explores these issues with the profession through his personal experience with specific patients.
To see the full interview, tune in to Focus Montreal Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and midnight.
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