Collectively, physicians faced and/or continue to face a trauma related to caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few family physicians have had the opportunity to collectively discuss this.

There is growing interest in the use of psychedelics for the treatment of PTSD, depression and substance use disorders. Patients may ask their provider about these options, but family physicians are unaware of the latest data on safety and efficacy or understand what services are available in Ontario.

Many patients may enter pregnancy while managing existing mental health conditions, and others may develop symptoms postpartum. Given this, it’s essential to understand how to screen and support these patients safely.

Insomnia is one of the most common issues family physicians see, but treating it effectively isn’t always straightforward. While patients may initially look to medication for relief, the best evidence supports Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) as the first-line treatment.