About Dr. Diane McIntosh
Psychiatrist | Innovator | Educator | Author | Speaker
A respected psychiatrist, author, and educator, Dr. Diane McIntosh is a passionate advocate for better mental health care and a tireless champion for Canadians suffering from mental health challenges. Diane believes every Canadian deserves the best mental health care possible so that they can live full lives of physical and mental well-being.
Throughout her career, Diane has worked to raise the profile of mental health issues in Canada and around the world. She’s established medical education and advocacy programs, published numerous blogs and op-eds, and lectures widely on mental health issues.
A key theme in Diane’s advocacy is the urgent need to improve the quality of care and treatment options available for people diagnosed with mental illness. The severe toll COVID-19 has taken on Canadian’s mental health has brought these important issues into even sharper focus. Diane believes that better, more accurate diagnoses of mental health issues is key to early intervention and successful treatment.
A respected psychiatrist, author, and educator, Dr. Diane McIntosh is a passionate advocate for better mental health care and a tireless champion for Canadians suffering from mental health challenges. Diane believes every Canadian deserves the best mental health care possible so that they can live full lives of physical and mental well-being.
Throughout her career, Diane has worked to raise the profile of mental health issues in Canada and around the world. She’s established medical education and advocacy programs, published numerous blogs and op-eds, and lectures widely on mental health issues.
A key theme in Diane’s advocacy is the urgent need to improve the quality of care and treatment options available for people diagnosed with mental illness. The severe toll COVID-19 has taken on Canadian’s mental health has brought these important issues into even sharper focus. Diane believes that better, more accurate diagnoses of mental health issues is key to early intervention and successful treatment.
Dr. Diane McIntosh also co-hosts Blindsided, an award-winning podcast exploring mental health issues with former NHL goalie, Cory Hirsch. Her most recent book, This is Depression, is an Amazon Canada bestseller.
Areas of Expertise and Credentials
Diane earned an undergraduate degree in pharmacy before completing her medical school training, 2-years of a paediatric residency and then an adult psychiatry residency. She is a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia and has been a psychiatrist in community practice for over 20 years.
Diane is extensively involved in providing continuing medical education programs to colleagues nationally and internationally, with a focus on rational pharmacology and the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders and ADHD. Diane is the co-founder of SwitchRx, the online medication switching tool for prescribers and pharmacists. She has her own continuing medical education program, PsychedUp, which was developed to encourage the appropriate, confident, rational prescribing of psychiatric medications.
In her role as Chief Neuroscience Officer at TELUS, Diane has supported team members and clients with direction and guidance on mental health matters that are evidence-based and grounded in science. organizations on topics related to mental health and well-being.
Areas of Expertise and Credentials
Diane earned an undergraduate degree in pharmacy before completing her medical school training, 2-years of a paediatric residency and then an adult psychiatry residency. She is a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia and has been a psychiatrist in community practice for over 20 years.
Diane is extensively involved in providing continuing medical education programs to colleagues nationally and internationally, with a focus on rational pharmacology and the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders and ADHD. Diane is the co-founder of SwitchRx, the online medication switching tool for prescribers and pharmacists. She has her own continuing medical education program, PsychedUp, which was developed to encourage the appropriate, confident, rational prescribing of psychiatric medications.
In her role as Chief Neuroscience Officer at TELUS, Diane has supported team members and clients with evidence-based direction and guidance on mental health matters. She supports the TELUS well-being team and other organizations on topics related to advancing and promoting mental health and well-being.
“We are judged as a society by how we treat our most vulnerable. People struggling with mental illness are often vulnerable. So I take up the space someone gives me in trying to advocate for people who can’t advocate for themselves.”
Throughout her career Diane has been an advocate for the right care to the right person at the right time. Refusing to resign herself to a system that has not only let her down but has also let down so many of her patients, she is using her voice in as many ways possible to affect change and create a more equitable balance of power between patient and caregiver.
Her book, This is Depression demystifies many of depression’s complexities, clearly illustrating treatment options in language accessible to all readers. For those preferring podcasts, she and ex-NHL goaltender Corey Hirsh are the hosts of Blindsided, an award-winning podcast that explores the impact of mental illness through the experiences of professional athletes, showing that mental health struggles know no economic or demographic bounds, and do not discriminate based on apparent privilege.
As a writer of op-eds, Diane also addresses a number of egregious outcomes of a system inadequately positioned to support the impact of a poisonous drug supply, homelessness and mental health crisis. Her brave stance and tendency to speak her mind have put her in high demand as a panelist and keynote speaker on issues concerning mental health.
Diane continues to advocate for bold thinking and fresh approaches to mental healthcare. She is a firm believer that the best patient outcomes start with competent, confident clinicians. Today she is leading a team with a mission to transform psychiatric care through cutting-edge technology and services rooted in science, education, and compassion.
Throughout her career Diane has been an advocate for the right care to the right person at the right time. Refusing to resign herself to a system that has not only let her down but has also let down so many of her patients, she is using her voice in as many ways possible to affect change and create a more equitable balance of power between patient and caregiver.
Her book, This is Depression demystifies many of depression’s complexities, clearly illustrating treatment options in language accessible to all readers. For those preferring podcasts, she and ex-NHL goaltender Corey Hirsh are the hosts of “Blindsided,” an award-winning podcast that explores the impact of mental illness through the experiences of professional athletes, showing that mental health struggles know no economic or demographic bounds, and do not discriminate based on apparent “privilege.”
As a writer of Op-Eds, Diane also addresses a number of egregious outcomes of a system inadequately positioned to support the impact of a poisonous drug supply, homelessness and mental health crisis. Her brave stance and tendency to speak her mind have put her in high demand as a panelist and keynote speaker on issues concerning mental health.
Diane continues to advocate for bold thinking and fresh approaches to mental healthcare. She is a firm believer that the best patient outcomes start with competent, confident clinicians. Today she is leading a team with a mission to transform psychiatric care through cutting-edge technology and services rooted in science, education, and compassion.