'Milestone' program provides hope to those battling severe depression

A new treatment option for residents experiencing severe depression and other mental illnesses whose conditions have not responded to other medications or therapies is now available ‘closer to home’. 

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, in partnership with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, officially launched a repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) program that the Penetanguishene hospital’s chief of staff Dr. Kevin Young says will greatly aid both hospital inpatients and outpatients.

“It will bring specialized care closer to home,” said Young, who also serves as Waypoint’s vice president of medical issues.

Young said depression can have a profound impact on individuals, affecting all aspects of their lives and noted that partnering with Sunnybrook accelerates Waypoint’s ability to deliver rTMS as part of a full continuum of treatment options for depression.

rTMS is an innovative form of brain stimulation. This advanced treatment is administered in a comfortable setting and involves short magnetic pulses that stimulate nerve cells in areas of the brain responsible for regulating thought, emotion and behaviour. It is specifically recommended for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression and is a great option when other treatments haven’t worked.

Sunnybrook president and CEO Dr. Andy Smith said the Toronto-based hospital is always looking for ways to expand services to ensure all Ontarians have better access to important technology and physician care.

“Collaboration is key to all that we do at Sunnybrook,” Smith said, pointing out that one in five Canadians experience a mental health or addiction concern.

“We all know the need for specialized mental health care is growing.”

And with Sunnybrook being one of the province’s largest rTMS providers, Smith said partnerships such as this one help provide essential care to regions that aren't served as well as larger centres.

“This helps make it equitable for patients, clients and families all across the province,” he said. We know how well this program can work. Programs like this provide hope, hope to patients who have tried other treatments.”

The program is by referral only and began accepting patients in August.

Dr. Plabon Ismail, Waypoint’s regional programs medical director and ECT lead psychiatrist, said the hospital has since received calls from general practitioners interested in finding out whether it might work for their patients.

The program currently serves both Waypoing inpatients and outpatients. A full course of treatment is administered five times a week for six weeks with treatments taking about five minutes. Patients typically return to their regular activities immediately afterwards.

Bayview and neuromodulation program clinical manager Michelle LaFraugh said other specially designed rTMS helmets can also be used to treat those with other issues such as obsessive compulsive disorder and even smoking cessation.

Ismail said that when used for treating depression, the program features a 50% remission rate after six months.

“We expect a huge volume (of patients),” said Ismail, noting the $180,000 machine could be used to treat 70 to 80 people annually. 

As well, Young noted that one inpatient who completed the program was discharged from hospital soon thereafter.

“It truly is transformative to be thinking this way and bringing world-class treatment closer to home,” Young said, pointing out it’s a “great option” for individuals who don’t respond to other methods.

Waypoint board chair Ernie Vaillancourt called the new treatment option a reason to celebrate since it addresses an important need.

“This is a milestone in our journey,” he said. “Waypoint is fortunate to have strong partnerships.”