Precision Medicine Leader Caprion-HistoGeneX Rebrands as CellCarta
MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2021 /CNW/ - Caprion-HistoGeneX, a leading global provider of specialized precision medicine laboratory services to the biopharmaceutical industry, is pleased to announce its new corporate name, CellCarta, and brand identity.
The new name for the Montreal-headquartered company stems from the 2019 combination of contract research organization Caprion Biosciences, which specializes in immunology and proteomics services, and HistoGeneX, a provider of histopathology and genomics services based in Antwerp. Recently, CellCarta further expanded its scientific capabilities and geographic presence through the acquisitions of Nova Scotia-based Clinical Logistics Inc. and California-based Mosaic Laboratories LLC. As a result, CellCarta is well positioned to serve the global clinical trial requirements of its pharmaceutical and bio-tech clients with state-of-the-art facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe and China. CellCarta is backed by Arsenal Capital Partners.
The name CellCarta is inspired by the Magna Carta, a symbol of individual liberty, and is meant to evoke the company's mission of mapping the content and function of human cells to enable and accelerate the evolution of personalized precision medicine.
"Our mission is to be the global partner of choice for biopharmaceutical companies seeking precision medicine solutions to help ensure a healthier future for us all," said Martin LeBlanc, CEO of CellCarta. "By uniting our diverse teams of scientists across the world under a common brand identity, we aim to articulate a single message aligned with our shared set of fundamental values focused on scientific excellence, a collaborative mindset and a commitment to deliver high quality results to our partners. It also further reinforces our commitment to provide our clients with a broad and integrated set of services under a single organization."
The new brand identity was developed in conjunction with BrandBourg, a Canadian consultancy firm specializing in brand strategy and brand identity.
CellCarta's visual identity is intended to be reminiscent of a map or puzzle representing the distinctions between human cells. It is further meant to convey a brand personality that is innovative, trustworthy and embodies scientific leadership.
"We wanted to create a brand that is unique in the market, relevant to our clients and inspiring to our employees around the world," said Nick Wright, President and COO of CellCarta. "CellCarta embodies everything we do, which is about mapping differences between cells and ultimately between individuals, so that our partners can develop better and more targeted therapies."
David Spaight, Executive Chairman of CellCarta and an Arsenal Operating Partner, added, "By uniting under a single brand identity, CellCarta is sending a signal that its rapid expansion through acquisitions and organic growth has resulted in a market-leading enterprise that is greater than the sum of its parts. The ongoing success of CellCarta exemplifies Arsenal's 'Strategic Company Building' approach that focuses on expanding a company's solution offering, elevating its market position, and compounding its growth."
The following video further describes CellCarta's new brand identity: www.cellcarta.com
About CellCarta CellCarta is a leading provider of specialized precision medicine laboratory services to the biopharmaceutical industry. Leveraging its integrated analytical platforms in immunology, histopathology, proteomics and genomics, as well as related specimen collection and logistics services, CellCarta supports the entire drug development cycle, from discovery to late-stage clinical trials. The company operates globally with with over 700 employees in its nine facilities located in Canada, USA, Belgium, Australia, and China. For more information: www.cellcarta.com
About Arsenal Capital Partners Arsenal is a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in middle-market healthcare and industrials companies. Since its inception in 2000, Arsenal has raised institutional equity investment funds of $5.3 billion, has completed more than 200 platform and add-on investments, and achieved more than 30 realizations. Arsenal healthcare companies focus on improving critical healthcare processes and scientific requirements leading to improved outcomes for patients. The firm works with management teams to build strategically important companies with leading market positions, high growth and high value-add. For more information: www.arsenalcapital.com
SOURCE Caprion Biosciences
Five exercises to warm up for winter activities
If there’s ever been a winter to brave the winter temperature and embrace outdoor activities, this is the one. Skis, skates and snowshoes are in high demand as more Canadians venture outdoors to get some exercise. Outdoor exercise is good for your cardiovascular health and can improve your balance, as well as your mood.
Winter Health and Fitness Week is February 1 to 7, a great time to get outside and get moving. Kathleen Fursey, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor with GoodLife Fitness, suggests doing winter warm up exercises that work the muscles you’ll need for your favourite outdoor activities. She adds it’s a good idea to put in some time up front to get ready to hit the snow and ice and minimize the risk of injury. These exercises are also perfect workout moves for those who want to get the effect of winter activities, but don’t want to brave the cold!
Speed skater. If you’ve gone skating yet this year, you’ll remember how much work it was for your glutes and quads. Skating also requires cardio endurance to keep up your forward momentum, and balance to stay upright on ice. The speed skater move, where you jump sideways, back and forth in a crouch, is clearly designed to copy the moves of skating – and helps you work the right muscles and get your heart pumping, while forcing you to use your core muscles to stabilize as you move from foot to foot.
Mountain climber. When it comes to sledding, there is a LOT of walking uphill. If there’s a child in the sled, you’re also adding resistance training. While the downhill runs are fun, the uphill climb is more challenging for cardio endurance, but also requires leg and core strength to protect your back as you walk at an upward angle, and arm strength to pull the sled behind you.
Ironically, mountain climbers are the perfect exercise to ‘train’ for your next sled run. Holding yourself in plank position works your arms and core, while running with your knees boosts cardio quickly.
Alternating lunges. For fans of cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, it’s important to strengthen your glute muscles, as well as your hip flexors, quads and other muscles in your legs. Depending on how quickly you move, these outdoor activities are also great for building cardiovascular strength. Fursey recommends alternating lunges to work the right muscles. While it’s best to start with the basic move, you can make the exercise more challenging by adjusting the tempo, adding a jump as you switch legs, or holding weights while you lunge.
Pivoting squats. Snowboarding and downhill skiing require you to hold a squat position and pivot your hips and shoulders as you traverse down the hill. Fursey suggests standing in a squat position, then jumping to pivot and land in a squat, facing the other way. This kind of plyometric exercise is very good for quads and glutes, as well as core muscles required to pivot your body and stabilize.
Fast feet shuffle. Walking or running outdoors at this time of year can be considered a winter sport, and can be hazardous when the sidewalks and trails are icy. Agility and balance are important to be able to recover and stay upright. The fast feet shuffle is a familiar exercise from gym class, and a great way to reinforce mind-body connection, improve agility and boost your heartrate.
Kathleen Fursey is available to talk more about winter exercise and ideas to stay healthy indoors and out. She can demonstrate these winter sport warm up moves and talk more about how to do them safely and effectively for the best possible benefits. She teaches regular online Cardio Circuit classes on Instagram @goodlifefitness
Precision Biomonitoring Selected as a Future Canadian Economic Powerhouse by MaRS Momentum Program
Precision Biomonitoring on track to reach $100 million in expected revenue over the next five years
GUELPH, ON, Jan. 26, 2021 /CNW/ - Precision Biomonitoring is proud to announce it has been accepted by the MaRS Momentum program as one of Canada's future economic powerhouses. The MaRS Momentum program is a multi-sector, exclusive program designed to support the executives of high-growth companies on their way to reaching $100 million in revenue in the next five years.
Precision Biomonitoring is a first mover in rapid, mobile diagnostic and detection kits in Canada. Its unique technology can be applied to any living organism, enabling customers to detect an organism or pathogen at the point-of-need and get a result immediately. Most recently it's being used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Being able to supply a test that uses simple RNA extraction, runs at room temperature and is portable with real-time, on-the-spot results via a smartphone is game-changing. Precision Biomonitoring currently has 12 additional tests in R&D, and is in clinical validations for a rapid, non-invasive COVID-19 antigen test that uses saliva samples and a microsensor to detect very low levels of infection, thereby extending its product platform to appeal to a broader market.
"We are incredibly honoured to be included in this prestigious MaRS program. Our team has dedicated endless hours throughout the pandemic to develop tools that contribute to the scientific community and human health," says Dr. Mario Thomas, CEO, Precision Biomonitoring. "Our dedication to innovative testing solutions is steadfast and we look forward to the opportunities at home in Canada, and abroad, that will help fuel our continued growth. In fact, we've already grown from a team of just five, to over 30 employees in less than one year."
"We are thrilled to welcome Precision Biomonitoring to MaRS Momentum. Their growth, accomplishments and significant potential have qualified them to join this exclusive group of high-growth Canadian companies," said Krista Jones, Founding Executive, Momentum & VP, Venture Services. "We are proud to support their continued growth and global expansion and believe that they will create outsized economic impact for Canada."
Precision Biomontoring has two Health Canada and one European approval – making it the first and only Canadian-made solution to support Canada's pandemic response. The Company's advanced TripleLock™ qPCR test is based on three core principles that are designed to maximize accuracy and confidence in qPCR results, reduce costs, and deliver results in real-time.
About Precision Biomonitoring
Founded in 2016 by a team of scientists from the University of Guelph's Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Precision Biomonitoring provides TripleLock™ onsite eDNA surveillance platform solutions that give customers rapid earlier detection of organisms. The Company's portfolio includes available qPCR field tests for animal, plants and microbial species. Precision Biomonitoring is now applying this technology into the human health field which increases the potential and application for various other tests, as seen with our COVID-19 mobile tests. The Precision Biomonitoring team is at the forefront of technological innovations in the genomics industry. Our vision is a world where we can identify any organism on the spot, in an instant, anywhere on the planet. Learn more about Precision Biomonitoring at: https://precisionbiomonitoring.com/about-us
SOURCE Precision Biomonitoring
HEALTH AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY CAN GET BACK TO WORK SAFELY
BY ADOPTING REGULAR RAPID MASS TESTING STRATEGY
Holding back on rapid mass testing is now a public health emergency extending the war against COVID-19, say experts, and the Health and Wellness sector can potentially create safer back-to-work environments and negate the need for future lockdowns through public health adoption of regular use of easy-to-use rapid lateral flow tests in the workplace.
The UK was first to recognise the large-scale potential and is now deploying 400 million lateral flow rapid antigen test kits alongside the strategy for vaccinations as well as public guidance on masks, hand cleansing and social distancing.
Image – Generic example of a Rapid Lateral Flow antigen test
But the lateral flow test (LFT) message is fast going global with World Health Organisation Special Envoy on COVID-19, David Nabarro, now commenting:
"We’ve seen it (rapid mass testing) used in many different locations, particularly for example in trying to keep aircraft free of people who’ve got COVID or looking after major events.”
Using LFTs will keep economies open, health systems safe and allow audiences to attend entertainment and sporting events, he added.
A leading US mass testing expert, Dr Michael Mina of Harvard University, insisted rapid mass testing had been misunderstood by some: “The UK is one of the only countries that genuinely listened to the science and I spoke with Downing Street about the value of getting mass testing right.”
The UK Government initiative led the way offering LFTs, to essential health workers, the education sector, and local authorities. This mass rapid testing approach to suppressing transmission has now been extended to the workplace, via private sector and industry groups. Early adopters in the UK include the Royal Mail, DVLA and Tate & Lyle Sugars. This is expected to be significant in reducing the need for future lockdowns. Slovakia, like the UK, uses rapid lateral flow antigen tests with great success in their mass testing initiative, with extremely positive results.
Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that around one in three infected people do not show symptoms, so testing was vital to break the chains of transmission; workplace testing offers peace of mind to those unable to work from home during lockdown.
He added: “LFTs have already been hugely successful in finding positive cases we would not otherwise find, and I encourage employers and workers to take up this offer to help protect essential services and businesses.”
Globally renowned journal, The Lancet, supports this approach after publishing an exhaustive study of quarantine and testing measures, and leading UK scientists and clinical experts have added their weight.
Senior researchers at Oxford University found that most sensitive LFTs detected 83-90% of all infectious cases of COVID-19 and, with the UK investing more than £1.5bn in these test kits so far, Oxford’s Regius Professor of Medicine Sir John Bell underlined the benefit of these removing infectious people from high-risk environments: “They’ve found 25,000 cases just in healthcare, which may have prevented tens of thousands of cases of the disease.”
Tim Peto, Professor of Medicine, Infectious Disease, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford University addressed the contrasts between PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swab testing and lateral flow kits:
“PCR is very good at telling you’ve had the virus or got the virus, but it doesn’t tell you whether you are infectious or not and the other problem about the swab test is that it takes a day or two…to get the answer back. The LFT has the enormous advantage of giving you an answer in about 30 minutes.”
He said this allows immediate self-isolation and individuals can also quickly advise their contacts so, “within a few hours, a local outbreak can be detected. This can’t be done with the swab (PCR) tests” adding that LFTs “detect people with high viral loads…the very people who are infectious.”
The World Nano Foundation (WNF) promotes healthcare technology and has modelled this form of technology, predicting that mass testing is central to future pandemic protection.
The not-for-profit organisation’s Co-founder Paul Sheedy said: “Our research shows how healthcare diagnostics technology will shift dramatically to a more decentralised community early intervention model, against potential epidemics and pandemics.
“Our own COVIDlytics™ modelling shows that an intensive front line ‘Test to Suppress’ campaign using rapid test kits available to the individual will allow early detection and immediate isolation, reducing the need for lockdowns.
“And our simulation maps how consecutive daily tests for three days can rapidly identify and isolate infectious people. Weekly testing can then sustain a low infection rate even in a large population.
“A key point previously missed by some experts is that high quality rapid lateral flow tests are not for people who already think they have COVID-19; it’s about everyone else testing frequently to check they are not infectious.
“Used alongside vaccines, hand-cleansing, and social distancing, these simple tests are a vital component in the battle to defeat COVID-19, future variants or other viruses.
“Rapid community testing is simpler, faster, cheaper, ultimately more effective and mobilises everyone to help themselves and their relatives, friends, and colleagues – we can all play a part in keeping everyone safe.
“As West Africa reeled under the impact of Ebola (2014-16) the world watched with bated breath to see if the ‘beast’ would go global, but frequent mass rapid testing was deployed at community level multiple times over a few weeks - stopping that terrible disease in its tracks.
“With the work that we do, we know that there are even more exciting technologies on the way that will be central to the world’s fight for pandemic protection and future healthcare.
“We have already seen the danger from not being on our guard against renewed viral threats. Spanish Flu struck in 1918 and ultimately killed up to 50 million people in four successive waves, the last two being most deadly because public health warnings were not adhered to.
“The UK Government’s foresight in being first to secure large stocks of rapid lateral flow antigen test supplies by Innova Medical (USA) and SureScreen Diagnostics (UK) may prove to have been a human and economic lifesaver.”
Ends
The World Nano Foundation is a not-for-profit membership organisation with 75,000 subscribers and users in 40 countries working on international commercialisation of nanoscale technologies in 16 industry sectors and collaborates with a wide variety of partners, maximising support and funding bringing advanced technology to the world and commerce. This is supported by many industry and academic groups developing and creating a legacy for nanotechnology innovation.
INNOVA Medical Group leads in the manufacture and distribution of rapid antigen and antibody test kits for COVID-19 disease detection.INNOVA’s integrated solution provides a best-in-class portfolio of diagnostic and screening tests. QMC HealthID™ secure app captures test results and creates a “health passport” for the user. Analytics, powered by real-time data, assist in tailoring protocols to individual use cases: entertainment, government, manufacturing, nursing and care homes, schools and universities and transportation.
The four pillars of success: TIME – Testing, Implementation, Monitoring, and Engagement
https://innovamedgroup.com/
SureScreen believes that early, accurate diagnosis is better than waiting for problems to arise, and a proactive approach greatly benefits people's health, identifies issues early in their development, prevents accidents from happening and has a positive effect on performance, productivity and reputation.
LAKE GENEVA, Wis., Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Primex, the leading provider of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) environmental monitoring technologies, announced its OneVue SenseTM temperature sensor and automated monitoring platform can help labs, pharmacies, hospitals, and other vaccine administrators across the healthcare industry be prepared for the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. The integrated system meets Public Health Agency of Canada requirements, CSA Health Care & Well-Being standards, and other government body regulations.
COVID-19 vaccines may require extremely cold storage temperatures, with some as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). A Primex OneVue Sense temperature sensor with a cryogenic probe can monitor storage units as low as minus 200 degrees Celsius (minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit). When paired with the OneVue MonitorTM automated monitoring software solution, the integrated system provides real-time alerts if vaccine storage temperatures fluctuate outside of the specified temperature range, helping maintain vaccine safety and effectiveness. The system also archives all recorded temperatures to ensure compliance.
"Any breach in temperature control can degrade a vaccine, making it lose its full potency," said Paul Shekoski, CEO for Primex. "With the Primex OneVue platform, customers have peace of mind knowing that the vaccine will always remain at the proper temperature."
In addition to temperature, functionalities within OneVue include indoor air quality, differential pressure, and contact closure monitoring solutions, which can be used in hospital isolation rooms and to ensure freezer storage doors remain closed. The cloud-based software in OneVue is fully customizable, enabling users to schedule reports, alerts, and messaging to suit their specific needs and synchronize many different types of devices across a facility. There are over 40,000 Primex sensors installed in healthcare settings across Canada and the U.S.
"For nearly 50 years, healthcare providers have trusted Primex to deliver proven and reliable healthcare solutions," said Shekoski. "We are proud to be part of this monumental public health effort to ensure safe, reliable, and effective COVID-19 vaccines reach the public."
For more information about Primex OneVue Sense vaccine storage temperature monitoring solutions, visit www.primexinc.com/covid-19-vaccine-storage-monitoring, or contact Rob Klinck, Sr. Vice President - Sales at +1-262-349-0093.
About Primex Primex is the leading provider of solutions that automate and maintain facility compliance, increase efficiencies, enhance safety, and reduce risk for enterprise organizations in the healthcare, education, manufacturing, and government vertical markets. Primex delivers platforms that utilize a facility's existing network infrastructure to automate, monitor, document, and report essential activities usually performed by the facility management staff including time synchronization and environmental, temperature, and event monitoring. For more information, please visit the Primex website at www.primexinc.com.
RBC Youth Mental Well-being Project Gives $50,000 to Renascent, to Support Youth Access to Life-Save Addiction Treatment Programs
TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2021 /CNW/ - The RBC Youth Mental Well-being Project has given $50,000 to Renascent, one of Ontario's leading addiction treatment providers, to support transitional aged youth in accessing intensive addiction treatment programs, including inpatient treatment and intensive virtual outpatient treatment. This is the second year that the RBC Youth Mental Well-being Project has provided this grant in support of transitional aged youth accessing addiction treatment at Renascent.
The RBC Youth Mental Well-being Project is RBC's commitment to supporting programs that help youth and families access the right care at the right time. As the Project explains, only 1 in 5 youth with a mental health illness get access to the care they need. Many families spend months waiting in line for mental health services, only to be informed that they were in the wrong line, forcing them to join another wait list while they struggle to support their child at home. Through the Project, RBC has provided more than $34 million to organizations dedicated to helping kids and families get the programs and resources they need.
Grants like this one support Renascent in providing treatment to transitional age youth. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Renascent has seen a higher number of calls from people, including youth, needing help addressing their mental health and addiction concerns. Here's how Laura Bhoi, Renascent's CEO, describes the impact of this grant:
"Addiction is one of the most widespread health issues facing transitional aged youth today, and there is a huge need for more funded treatment. Thank you to RBC for their leadership in providing critical funding grants in support of intensive addiction treatment for youth. At a time when substance use disorders are on the rise, this support makes all the difference."
– Laura Bhoi, CEO
Renascent is one of Ontario's largest and longest-standing addiction treatment providers, celebrating 50 years of leadership in addiction treatment. Founded in 1970, Renascent offers evidence-based, trauma-informed care that addresses substance addiction and concurrent mental health issues. The story and details of Renascent can be found at renascent.ca.
SOURCE Renascent
Achieve Peace, Happiness, Tranquility, and Relaxation Through A New Meditation App
New meditation app Relaxx App guides its users to understand the body, mind, and flame through meditation and intermittent silence.
Relaxx is the advanced meditation app for achieving peace, happiness, tranquility, and relaxation through the practice of intermittent silence and meditation. The app guides its users on a journey away from everyday tasks and concerns to reduce stress and burnout.
The app was created by Dr. Krishna Bhatta, a surgeon, author, and inventor, who is currently practicing as chief of urology at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Maine. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Bhatta’s passion lies in integrating eastern wisdom into the western world by sharing his spiritual discoveries.
This portable spiritual Guru provides an individualized experience where users can start with a daily intermittent silence routine and move on to a variety of meditation techniques, both guided and unguided. Just a few minutes of practicing mindfulness, intermittent silence, and meditation will leave users feeling energized and refreshed.
Intermittent silence is a term that Dr. Bhatta has been using for a few years to represent taking a break from life. In the same way that people rest their physical body and lower their heart rate to a resting place, it is also important to rest the brain, even if it is only ten minutes. Dr. Bhatta explains that by closing the eyes, the visual pathway is able to rest. By listening in silence and hearing sounds without judgment, auditory pathways are able to rest. Allowing thoughts to pass without paying attention will give rest to the brain, and when that resting place is achieved, a door will open to individual consciousness.
Relaxx encourages people to practice at the same time and same place as often as possible. This practice will lead to progression, to the point that users will be able to notice a difference in their meditation quality. By continuing daily, the ultimate goal will be to carry that peace into times of chaos. With guidance from Relaxx, users will come to an understanding of body, mind, and flame. Their chakras will come alive as they begin their inner adventure. Collectively, this brings a noticeable change to real life situations. The changes should reflect at work and at home, with an all around better performance and improved relationships.
Dr. Bhatta, says, “You go to sleep and come out refreshed; you go through meditation and come out energized and spread peace.” He adds, “With Relaxx, we want you to experience intermittent silence. Open the door to all deeper meditations and enhance your awareness for everything around you.”
Krishna Bhatta is an author, surgeon, and inventor, currently practicing as chief of urology at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Dr. Bhatta began his life in a small Indian village, attended Patna Medical College in India, and continued his education in the U.K. He completed his research and medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston before settling down in Maine. Dr. Bhatta takes joy in sharing what he has learned and earnestly hopes to further the spiritual discoveries of generations to come. He dreams of a world where eastern wisdom and western discoveries embrace each other to make the world a better place.
Training Center for At-Risk Women Offers Hope for Independence
Seattle, WA, January 25, 2021 — Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of living on the streets or in unsafe environments. Drug dealers, pimps and human traffickers lie in wait for new victims. Seattle spends a staggering $1 billion per year on fragmented programs to support its homeless, according to Puget Sound Business Journal, yet the challenges continue to grow.It’s time for a new approach.
Providence Heights is a forward-thinking, Christian-based nonprofit designed to empower Seattle’s women in need through housing, employment opportunities and personal development programs. The organization’s business model is revolutionary: Providence Heights plans to reinvest revenues generated through real-estate, commercial and entrepreneurial enterprises to create a sustainable source of income, something founder Christine Soule calls Capitalism for the Poor. Additionally, “Our unique retail space integration will secure revenue as well as provide apprenticeship, jobs and entrepreneurial skills,” Soule explains.
Phase I will provide housing and resilient growth programs for over 88 women (and children) at risk of losing their homes, or who simply need opportunities to regroup and equip themselves to not just survive but to thrive. Also for those who have come out of a program such as the Union Gospel Mission and are fully prepared to commit to changing the trajectory of their lives.
Phase II aims to provide housing for more than 200 women, including those with children. Once the revenue stream is firmly established in this phase, Providence Heights will enter Phase III — the final phase — when the organization will replicate this model from city to city. They hope to also empower similar organizations to use its successful blueprint to help those they serve.
Providence Heights Founder and Chief Executive Officer Christine Soule is a lover of people and passionate about leading them toward a restored and dignified life. From her personal experience, she has great compassion for at-risk and abused women. She co-founded The Purpose and is a philanthropist, author and inventor. Her recently released book, Broken and Beautiful, chronicles her remarkable journey from trauma to triumph. Christine is also a mother of five and married to Mitch, the love of her life.
So-Called Normal Shares Gripping True Story of Suicide Attempt Survival and Resilience
New York NY, January 25, 2021 — By age 15, depression and anxiety had taken their toll on Mark Henick. Clinging to an outside girder on an overpass, a deeply troubled Henick made the only decision he thought he could. And he let go.
Henick’s newly released book, So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience, aims to break the relentless stigma of mental illness through his candid, intensely personal account of his youth, the events that led to that fateful night on the bridge, and the experiences and transformation that followed. Henick takes readers inside the mind of a boy who had to deal with the breakdown of his parents’ marriage, an abusive stepfather, bullying and trauma — all while trying to navigate his progressively worsening mental health. In the backdrop is a community that didn’t talk about mental illness, one where silence and maintaining the comforts of “normal” was paramount.
So-Called Normal is a vital, triumphant story of perseverance and recovery that has already touched the hearts of many, including television personality Rosie O’Donnell.
“Mark Henick is a powerful storyteller. His vivid account of his early years as a depressed, suicidal teenager is a page-turner. So-Called Normal is beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and hopeful. Necessary reading for anyone who wants a peek inside the mind of someone who journeyed through mental illness and found hope on the other side,” O’Donnell said.
Author Mark Henick’s TEDx talk, Why We Choose Suicide, is one of the most watched in the world and has been viewed millions of times. His search for “the man in the brown jacket” whose bravery and strong arms kept him from falling to his death went viral around the world (and was successful!). Henick has been on television and radio and has written many articles on mental health. He has hosted more than 60 intimate conversations about mental health with notable public figures and celebrities on his podcast, So-Called Normal, and has executive produced and hosted the Living Well podcast for Morneau Shepell. Henick has served on the board of directors for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and was the president of a provincial division of the Canadian Mental Health Association — the youngest person in either role. He has worked as a frontline clinician, a program manager and the national director of strategic initiatives for CMHA. Currently the CEO and principal strategist for Strategic Mental Health Consulting, Mark Henick is in high demand as an international keynote speaker on mental health recovery.
So-Called Normal Shares Gripping True Story of Suicide Attempt Survival and Resilience
New York NY, January 25, 2021 — By age 15, depression and anxiety had taken their toll on Mark Henick. Clinging to an outside girder on an overpass, a deeply troubled Henick made the only decision he thought he could. And he let go.
Henick’s newly released book, So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience, aims to break the relentless stigma of mental illness through his candid, intensely personal account of his youth, the events that led to that fateful night on the bridge, and the experiences and transformation that followed. Henick takes readers inside the mind of a boy who had to deal with the breakdown of his parents’ marriage, an abusive stepfather, bullying and trauma — all while trying to navigate his progressively worsening mental health. In the backdrop is a community that didn’t talk about mental illness, one where silence and maintaining the comforts of “normal” was paramount.
So-Called Normal is a vital, triumphant story of perseverance and recovery that has already touched the hearts of many, including television personality Rosie O’Donnell.
“Mark Henick is a powerful storyteller. His vivid account of his early years as a depressed, suicidal teenager is a page-turner. So-Called Normal is beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and hopeful. Necessary reading for anyone who wants a peek inside the mind of someone who journeyed through mental illness and found hope on the other side,” O’Donnell said.
Author Mark Henick’s TEDx talk, Why We Choose Suicide, is one of the most watched in the world and has been viewed millions of times. His search for “the man in the brown jacket” whose bravery and strong arms kept him from falling to his death went viral around the world (and was successful!). Henick has been on television and radio and has written many articles on mental health. He has hosted more than 60 intimate conversations about mental health with notable public figures and celebrities on his podcast, So-Called Normal, and has executive produced and hosted the Living Well podcast for Morneau Shepell. Henick has served on the board of directors for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and was the president of a provincial division of the Canadian Mental Health Association — the youngest person in either role. He has worked as a frontline clinician, a program manager and the national director of strategic initiatives for CMHA. Currently the CEO and principal strategist for Strategic Mental Health Consulting, Mark Henick is in high demand as an international keynote speaker on mental health recovery.
