Climate change is a major source of anxiety for many. To improve the quality of life for those struggling with climate-related concerns, it’s essential to have strategies to address climate anxiety.

Indigenous people often face discrimination when accessing the health system, and many have histories of health-related trauma. To address these health disparities that continue disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action recommended providing cultural competency training for all health care professionals, including skill-based teaching in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

ADHD is often missed due to its shared characteristics with anxiety and depression, or because patients have multiple mental health conditions in addition to ADHD.

New family doctors are often hesitant to continue prescribing opioids for patients, including to those who need opioids for pain management. However, opioids can be a helpful treatment for pain and it’s important for family doctors to know how to prescribe them effectively.

New nicotine delivery systems, policies and evidence are evolving to include nicotine pouches, ‘heat sticks’, and vaping products. Family physicians may be unfamiliar with emerging products and evidence and unable to provide guidance to patients.

Even if a family doctor makes the correct diagnosis and prescribes the most appropriate treatment to address an illness, if a patient is unable to access the treatment due to social or financial circumstances the patient will not improve.

Administrative burden, including completing complex forms and reviewing EMRs are all contributing to burnout in family medicine. During this session, our panelists will discuss tricks to efficiently review EMRs, setting boundaries with patients, taking vacations and training your office staff to take on some of the burdensome tasks.

Since 2018, patients have been able to access medical cannabis that has been authorized by a physician who signs a medical document. New research supporting the therapeutic use, safety and efficacy on cannabis is only now emerging, which puts family physicians in a difficult position as they may be asked to authorize cannabis when they are not familiar with the process.

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.