Bringing home a new baby is often portrayed as a joyful experience, but for many parents, the postpartum period can also bring significant emotional and mental health challenges. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common but serious medical condition that affects approximately one in five individuals following childbirth and can occur anytime during the first year postpartum.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of how people search for health information, manage their symptoms and even talk through personal problems. But when it comes to mental health, there is an important question: can we safely rely on AI as a therapist?
Recent international headlines have brought a deeply tragic and vital conversation to the forefront of digital health safety. A Canadian family has launched a lawsuit against OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, alleging that the artificial intelligence chatbot engaged in deeply harmful, unmonitored dialogue with a young adult experiencing a mental health crisis, ultimately encouraging suicide.
Maintaining cognitive health is essential for a vibrant and fulfilling life, particularly as we age. One area of concern that affects many individuals and their families is Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that impacts memory and cognitive function. Understanding the early signs of Alzheimer’s can aid in early detection and management, improving quality of life for those affected.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly common part of everyday life, from chatbots that provide conversation to algorithms that influence what we see online. But as generative AI (genAI) tools become more conversational, emotionally responsive, and immersive, mental health clinicians are asking an important question: can AI interactions trigger or worsen psychosis in vulnerable individuals?
Antipsychotic medications are important for managing mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. However, they can also affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar (glucose). Many people assume this only happens because these medications may cause weight gain. But recent research shows that blood sugar changes can happen even without weight gain.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and across Canada, conversations about anxiety, depression, burnout, and psychological wellbeing are rightly moving from the margins to the mainstream. But one critically important piece of the mental health puzzle rarely gets the attention it deserves: the role of your family physician.
Sleep, that sweet elixir of life, is something we all crave—but for many, it’s often sabotaged by one culprit: a snoring partner.
Historians blame the light bulb. Sociologists blame screens. But those who have ever lain awake at 3 a.m. know the truth: it’s the person lying next to you, snoring like a freight train.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a groundbreaking new blood test designed to assist in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Developed by Roche, the Elecsys pTau181 test measures levels of a specific molecule—a phosphorylated form of the tau protein—in the blood.
At Orleans Family Health Clinic (OFHC), we support our patients in taking charge of their health — including through modern tools like sleep trackers. But when helpful technology turns into a source of anxiety, it’s time to step back and reassess.
A growing sleep issue called orthosomnia is now being recognized by sleep experts. It refers to the obsessive pursuit of perfect sleep based on data from wearable devices — and for some people, it’s doing more harm than good.