Show Notes
This episode follows my thoughts while working on a documentary addressing our mental health crisis (a profoundly eye-opening experience). This research prompted me to revisit a past conversation with Carol Cowan-LeVine (also featured in this episode) after reading her thought-provoking article in The Walrus titled “Death by a Thousand Cuts: How an Army of Mental Health Professionals Let My Daughter Down.”
Statistics (US/Canadian) mentioned in the show:
Bipolar disorder:
Approximately half a million people live with bipolar disorder in Canada, representing about 2% of the population. And according to the National Institute of Health an estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives.
Schizophrenia – according to national data (2016-2017), of Canadians aged 10+:
- 1 out of 100 were living with diagnosed schizophrenia (56% men, 44% women)
- Approximately 30% of newly diagnosed cases were aged 20 to 34 years old.
- Between 2002-2016 the number of Canadians living with diagnosed schizophrenia increased by an average of 3% per year
- Recent statistics indicate a prevalence of around 1.1% to 1.35% for schizophrenia in the US (affecting roughly 2.8 million adults in 2020).
About this week’s guest:
Carol Cowan-Levine is a registered psychotherapist and the author of the memoir, Death by a Thousand Cuts, published in The Walrus on May 17th, 2017 (click here for link).
She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work, a post-graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Practice, with individuals, children, and families, and several additional post-graduate certificates. Her long-standing interest in psychotherapy has been demonstrated in her previous work at the Hospital for Sick Children, the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, as a trainer in the Ontario Child Welfare Training System, and as a practitioner in her own professional practice for more than 20 years. In October 2024, Carol received the Governor General’s Order of Canada for her work as a health care advocate.