Nutrition at CAMH

At the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health there are registered dietitians who work in many areas of both addictions and mental health. Registered Dietitians are licensed with the College of Dietitians of Ontario and members of Dietitians of Canada. Dietitians are integral members of the clinical multidisciplinary teams at CAMH.

Good nutrition is essential for good health, and is an important factor in the treatment of addictions and mental illnesses. The team of dietitians at CAMH use various counseling techniques when working withclients, as a way to help motivate them to make healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Registered Dietitians facilitate healthy eating habits among clients in order to promote more effective treatment and recovery. The Dietitians are also skilled in the area of therapeutic diets,needed by many of our clients in the aid of their recovery. The nutrition department has an active student education placement component and each year we provide placements for students, primarily from recognized undergraduate and graduate nutrition programs.

Nutrition and Addiction

Addiction often results in drastic changes to eating habits, possibly leading to nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. It is well documented that people with addiction encounter low levels of folate, A and D, B6, calcium, magnesium, potassium and selenium. Poor appetite, irregular meal patterns and the actual metabolism of chemicals can cause malnutrition. Chemical use has a toxic effect on the digestive tract causing malabsorption problems even when a well balanced diet can be achieved. The metabolism of drugs and alcohol put an increased demand on the body for nutrients. At the same time vitamins and co-enzymes may be inactivated and nutrient stores can become low. Addiction clients have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, HIV & Hepatitis C infection and co-infection in addition to poor appetite, diarrhea and or constipation.

Within a harm-reduction framework the clinical dietitian may use various therapeutic skill sets such as motivational interviewing to help move clients through the stages of change in order to facilitate permanent life style change. Positive changes in diet not only help reduce the risk of obesity, heart problems, cancer, osteoporosis, liver disease and diabetes but also have a profound affect on mental health. Many clients who work with the dietitian report increases in energy, better sleeping patterns and feeling more balanced emotionally.

Nutrition and Mental Health

How one nourishes one’s body is complex, and involves physical, psychological, spiritual and social components. Clients with mental illness often face challenges in many of these realms. Regulation of appetite is an example of such a complex yet basic requirement for healthy nourishment that is often impacted by mental illness. Impairment in this area may lead to problematic weight loss or gain.

Medications to treat mental illness can also contribute to these changes. Atypical antipsychotic medications are used to treat some types of mental illness. They have been found to have certain side effects which contribute to weight gain, dyslipidemia (conditions related to cholesterol and triglycerides etc.) and to a risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure etc.). Many individuals with mental illness consume nutrient poor diets which can lead to malnutrition. The risk for poverty increases for some of the more severely mentally ill, and limits access to nutritious foods, further compromising nutritional status.

Some additional nutrition-related challenges these clients face include, but are not limited to, the following:

Digestive problems

Fatigue, inactivity Cravings

Physical weakness Light-headedness

Diabetes High cholesterol/triglycerides

Obesity High blood pressure

Mood instability Headaches

Isolation Poor concentration and memory

The Registered Dietitians at CAMH work collaboratively to promote healthier eating and lifestyle choices among our mental health clients. They advocate for meaningful changes to support clients in their pursuit of enhanced health and recovery.

Nutrition Services

The Centre's dietitians provide assessments, counseling, individualized meal plans and workshops aimed at helping clients to increase control over their health and recovery. They use current research in the areas of nutrition, addiction and mental health, and act in accordance with the mission of the Centre by addressing client needs in a comprehensive manner.

Contact Information:
Amanda Schwartz, RD
Dietitian-in-Chief
(T): 416 535-8501 Ext. 7016
(F): 416 425-7896
amanda_schwartz@camh.net