What unique risk factors surround the COVID-19 pandemic and potential heightened risk of suicide? What populations have been most vulnerable to mental health consequences, substance use disorders, suicidal ideation, and self-harm during the pandemic and why? In this episode, Dr. Andrew Cutler interviews Dr. Roger McIntyre and Dr. Stephen Stahl on the suicide risk and prevalence during this challenging time.

Dr. Roger S. McIntyre is currently a Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto and Head of the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit at the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. Dr. McIntyre is also Executive Director of the Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation in Toronto, Canada. Dr. McIntyre was named by Thomson Reuters in 2014 and 2015, as one of “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds”. This distinction is given by publishing the largest number of articles that rank among those most frequently cited by researchers globally in 21 broad fields of science and social science during the previous decade. Dr. McIntyre is involved in multiple research endeavors which primarily aim to characterize the association between mood disorders, notably cognitive function and medical comorbidity. His works broadly aims to characterize the underlying causes of cognitive impairment in individuals with mood disorders and their impact on workplace functioning. This body of work has provided a platform for identifying novel molecular targets to treat and prevent mood disorders and accompanying cognitive impairment.

With this special series, brought to you by the NEI Podcast we will address a different theme in psychopharmacology every 3 months. Each theme is split into 3 parts, with one part released each month. The second theme is treatment-resistant depression and suicide prevention.

Episodes to be released under this theme include:

Part 1: Treatment Resistant Depression and Suicide Prevention: Hot Off the Press Ketamine Guidelines with Dr. Roger McIntyre

Part 2: Shelter-In-Place During the Storm: Mental Health Consequences and Suicide Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic with Dr. Roger McIntyre

Part 3: Beyond the Storm: An Update on Suicide Prevention and The Suicide Prevention Handbook with Dr. Christine Moutier

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