OUTREACH
Engagement
Education
Empowerment
WHO IS DR. BEACH?
Dr. Beach is not your typical psychiatrist. While he has an incredible depth of professional experience, his unique approach is also guided by his personal challenges.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what influenced your career path?
A. My mother was my biggest role model growing up. She was born with a serious genetic spine condition that caused her to experience many physical limitations. Despite that, she climbed up and down stairs to get to and from work for more than 20 years. She could have complained and yet she always remained positive and hopeful. My mother taught me the true meaning of resiliency while facing adversity; that requires true mental toughness. When my mother was born her parents were told that her life expectancy was 30 at best. At her birthday dinner when she turned 60, I recall her toasting at doubling her expected life span. My mother just recently turned 70; this year I beat her to the toast!
Q. Was there one particular event that led you to the study of mental wellness? If so, what was it?
A. I grew up in a small town in Canada that had a maximum-secure forensic psychiatric hospital as its major employer. Both of my parents worked at this hospital, my father as a nurse and my mother in medical records. At age 14, I began volunteering as a summer student in the hospital's recreation department. I participated in activities like playing ping pong and baseball and doing arts and crafts with the patients. Despite all of the suffering I witnessed, I still recall how much fun and joy such activities brought to people.
A couple years later I worked as a research assistant in the hospital's research department and I became very fascinated with the mind and questions like “what motivates certain human behaviors?” This early exposure greatly influenced my decision to go into medicine and, ultimately, into psychiatry.
Q. Why do you think that it is important to discuss this topic more broadly?
A. The mind and body are so intricately connected and mental health is a critical component of our overall health. So much pain and suffering could be prevented and alleviated if society accepted this truth and prioritized it accordingly.
Q. How do you think that opening up the conversation through your outreach can make a difference in people’s lives?
A. I believe that with more knowledge comes more power. The more we learn about mental wellness the more equipped we are to achieve it and maintain it. The more we talk openly and honestly about our own specific mental health challenges, the more we normalize mental health struggles for everyone. Ultimately, this open dialogue reduces the stigma that is still a barrier to many people seeking help.
Q. If you could accomplish one thing through your outreach, what would it be?
A. To help as many people as absolutely possible through mental health engagement, education, and empowerment. Humanity sharing is the medium and capturing every day real life examples of people from all walks of life is the active ingredient.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE DOCTOR'S BACKGROUND
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PRESENTATIONS WORKSHOPS AND PUBLICATIONS
Craig Beach, M.D., M.Sc.
EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY
OMA/CMA Masters Certificate in Physician Leadership Development Program
Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Ontario,
September 2012 – June 2013
Chair, Division of Forensic Psychiatry & Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, March 2012 – June 2015
Assistant Professor (Part-time)
Department of Psychiatry
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 2011 – March 2012
Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct)
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, August 2010 – March 2016
Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship, Case Western Reserve University
(Director Professor Phillip Resnick)
July 2009 – June 2010
Columbia University Psychiatry Residency Program
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Stamford Hospital,
July 2005 – June 2009
Master of Science in Forensic Mental Health Science (with Merit) Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, King’s College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
2004-2005
University of Toronto Psychiatry Residency Program (Clinician Scientist Stream)
St. Michael’s Hospital, University Health Network, and Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2003 - 2004
Doctor of Medicine
The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
2000 - 2003
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Scholar’s Electives Program (Dean’s Honour List)
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
1996 - 1998
EMPLOYMENT
Psychiatrist
Telemedicine, February 2018 - June 2023
Psychiatrist Lead, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Program, Workplace Safety Insurance Board, Toronto
Ontario, July 2016 – January 2018
Psychiatrist, Acquired Brain Injury Program
Waterloo Wellington Region, 2016 (part-time)
Psychiatrist, Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Team
Canadian Mental Health Centre Waterloo Wellington, October 2015 – June 2017
Physician Leader & Outreach Psychiatrist, Forensic Psychiatry Program, Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, St. Joseph’s Health Care
London, March 2012 – June 2015
Mental Health Systems Psychiatric Consultant, Canadian Mental Health Association
Wellington Waterloo Dufferin, 2011-October 2017 (part-time)
General and Forensic Psychiatry Private Practice, including by telemedicine
2010 – December 2017 (part-time)
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Complex Risk Assessments (e.g., suicide, violence, threat, sexual offending, etc.)
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Campus Mental Health Assessments
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Criminal Forensic Psychiatric Assessments (e.g., risk, Fitness to Stand Trial, Criminal Responsibility/Insanity, Diminished Capacity, sentencing reports, malingering, expert psychiatric witness, etc.)
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Civil Forensic Psychiatric Assessments (e.g., psychic harm/disability, return to work/fitness for duty, psychiatric malpractice, malingered mental illness, etc.)
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Experienced in mental health systems/models of care, complexity (e.g., severe and persistent mental illness, PTSD, etc.), safety/risk (e.g., suicide/self-harm, threat/violence), treatment resistance, seclusion and restraint reduction/least restraint, quality/evidence-based care, and psychiatric education
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Expert consultation, deposition, and courtroom psychiatric testimony
Psychiatrist, Practicing in Forensic Psychiatry, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Penetanguishene, Ontario, September 2010 – March 2012
Psychiatrist, Central North Correctional Centre
Penetanguishene, Ontario, September 2010 – December 2010 (part-time)
Research Therapist, National Addiction Center, Institute of Psychiatry
London, United Kingdom, November 2004 – May 2005
Research Assistant, William Osler Health Center
Brampton, Ontario, Canada, January 2000 – June 2000
RESEARCH
Division of Psychiatry, Law, and Ethics, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute
New York, New York, July 2007 – June 2010
Department of Forensic Mental Health Science, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College
London, United Kingdom, October 2004 – September 2005
Research Department, Provincial Forensic Programs Division, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada, August 2001 – February 2002 (part-time)
Department of Paediatrics, The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, October 2000 – March 2002 (part-time)
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada, September 1997 – April 1998
Research Department, Provincial Forensic Programs Division, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada, Summers 1997 - 1999
AWARDS
Rappaport Fellowship, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2008
F. Kenneth Hare Memorial Scholarship, King’s College, London, United Kingdom, 2004
Four-year-Continuing National Scholarship, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, 1996 – 1998
National Merit Award, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario Canada, 1996
PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS AND PUBLICATIONS
Beach, C, Dykema, L, Finnerty, M, Appelbaum, P, McReynolds, L, Dang, L: Forensic and Non-Forensic Clients in Assertive Community Treatment: A Longitudinal Study. Psychiatric Services 2013; 64 (5): 437-444
Beach, CA and Soliman, S: Reliability of Sleep Parasomnia and the Trustworthiness of Patient Self-Reporting. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 2010; 38 (4): 601-603
Hilton ZN, Harris GT, Rawson K, Beach CA: Communicating Violence Risk Information to Forensic Decision Makers. Criminal Justice and Behaviour 2005; 32 (1): 97-116
Sockalingam, S, Parekh, N, Bogoch, I, Sun, J, Mahtani, R, Beach, CA, Bollegalla, N, Turzanski, S, Seto, E, Kim, J, Dulay, P, Scarrow, S, Bhalerao, S: Delirium in the Postoperative Cardiac Patient: A Review. Journal of Cardiac Surgery 2005; 20(6): 560-567
Bogoch I, Beach CA, Sockalingam S, Hansen K, Cheng A, Kingstone E, Bhalerao S: Episodic Ataxia versus Somatization Disorder. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 2004; 49 (11):787
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
WSIB Mental Health Policies and Programs
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Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds (October 2017)
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds (October 2017)
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Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Grand Rounds (November 2017)
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Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Grand Rounds (November 2017)
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St. Michael’s Hospital, Department of Occupational Medicine Grand Rounds (November 2017)
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St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Grand Rounds (November 2017)
Psychiatric Diagnosis: DSM-IV vs DSM 5
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Wendat (April 2017)
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WSIB (April 2017)
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WSIB Traumatic Mental Stress Programs
Ontario Medical Association Occupational Medicine Conference (April 2017)
Psychopharmacology
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Wendat (April 2017)
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WSIB (November 2016)
Ontario Telemedicine Network Training, WSIB (January 2017)
WSIB Psychology/Psychiatry PTSD Roster Provider Training, WSIB (January 2017)
Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Overview, Wendat (2016)
Emotional Wellness and Self-Care for Staff, Wendat (2016)
Community Risk Assessment and Management
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Canadian Mental Health Association, Wellington, Waterloo, Dufferin (February 2014)
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Wendat (June 2014)
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OTN (June 2014)
Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care: the Good, the Glam, and the Glitches, Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Craig Beach & Janice Vandevooren (March 2014)
Ontario Mental Health Law, Wendat (2014)
Clinical Documentation Best Practices, Wendat (2014)
PGY-4 Mock Trial, Department of Psychiatry, Western University
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Craig Beach & Brian Daly (March 2014)
Introduction to Forensic Psychiatry, Medical Students, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (2013)
Stalking: Assessment and Management, Sea Courses Rhine River Cruise, Craig Beach (September 2013)
Psycho-legal Report Writing & Expert Psychiatric Testimony, PGY-4 Postgraduate Psychiatry Residents, Western University, Craig Beach (2013)
Civil Forensic Psychiatry, PGY-4 Postgraduate Psychiatry Residents, Western University, Craig Beach (2013-2015)
Criminal Forensic Psychiatry, PGY-4 Postgraduate Psychiatry Residents, Western University, Craig Beach (2013, 2014)
Specialized Mental Health, Foundation Cornerstone Dinner Fundraising Event, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Sarah Jarmain & Craig Beach (Feb 2013)
PGY-4 Forensic Psychiatry Interview Course, Craig Beach (2012 – 2014)
Borderline Personality Disorder, Craig Beach
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Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington (October 2016)
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Sea Courses Cruise, Rhine River (September 2013)
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Wendat, Midland, Ontario (November 2012)
Substance Abuse Disorders in the Elderly, Craig Beach (November 2012)
Depression in the Elderly, Wendat, Midland, Ontario (June 2012)
Dementia, Wendat, Midland, Ontario (June 2012)
Forensic Assertive Community Treatment: Improving Criminal Justice and Mental Health Outcomes, Craig Beach, Grand Rounds Presenter, Case Western Reserve University, Department of Psychiatry and Cuyahoga Community Corrections Centre, Cleveland, Ohio (May-June 2010)
In-Patient Care: Legal and Ethical Considerations, Craig Beach, Mary Jane Dykeman, Barbara Russell, National Symposium on Mental Health Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Ontario (October 2011)
Psychiatric Malpractice
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PGY-4 & PGY-5 Postgraduate Psychiatry Residents, Western University, 2013-2014
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Craig Beach, Louis DelSignore, Sea Courses Cruise, Montreal-to-Boston, September (2012)
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Craig Beach, Louis DelSignore, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care Grand Rounds, Penetanguishene, Ontario (June 2011)
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Craig Beach, Ontario Telemedicine Network (May 2012)
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Craig Beach, Praveen Kambam, Louis DelSignore, and Carolyn Wolf, International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services, Miami (April 2012)
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Craig Beach, Praveen Kambam, and Louis DelSignore, American Psychiatric Association, Honolulu, Hawaii (May 2011)
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Craig Beach, Praveen Kambam, Louis DelSignore, Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Quebec City, Quebec (February 2011)
Violence Risk Assessment and Management
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CMHA Waterloo Wellington Here 24-7, Specialized Crisis, and Police Services (February and March 2017)
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CMHA Waterloo Wellington (June 2016)
Sea Courses Cruise, Rhine River (September 2013)
PGY-4 Postgraduate Psychiatry Residents, Western University (2013)
Sea Courses Cruise, Montreal-to-Boston (September 2012)
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Guelph, Ontario (March 2011, June 2016)
CMHA, Toronto, Ontario (March 2011)
Trellis Mental Health and Developmental Services, Guelph, Ontario (March 2011)
Wendat, Midland, Ontario (May 2011)
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Grand Rounds, Orillia, Ontario (September 2011)
Royal Victoria Hospital Grand Rounds, Barrie, Ontario (January 2012)
Ontario Telemedicine Network (February 2012, June 2012)
Suicide Risk Assessment and Management
CMHA Waterloo Wellington Here 24-7, Specialized Crisis and Police Services (February and March 2017)
CMHA Waterloo Wellington (June 2016)
Sea Courses Cruise, Rhine River, September (2013)
Sea Courses Cruise, Montreal-to-Boston, September (2012)
Trellis Mental Health and Developmental Services (March 2011, November 2012)
Wendat, Midland, Ontario (May 2011)
Georgian Bay General Hospital (June 2011)
Ontario Telemedicine Network (February 2012, June 2012)
Psychiatric Seclusion & Restraint Reduction
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Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Annual Meeting (March 2013)
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Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care Physician Meeting (June 2012)
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Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, Ontario (February 2011)
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Ontario Telemedicine Network (May 2012)
Atypical Approaches in the Treatment of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
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The Library Restaurant, Midland, Ontario (May, 2011)
Psychopharmacology Review
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WSIB (November 2016)
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Wendat, Midland, Ontario (July, 2011)
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Ontario Telemedicine Network (May 2012)
Challenging Clients: Maximizing Assertiveness and Enhancing Conflict Resolution Techniques
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Wendat, Midland, Ontario (July, 2011)
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Ontario Telemedicine Network (June 2012)
CONFERENCES AND COURSES
Disruptive Physician Behavior
Ontario Medical Association, 2015
Physician Engagement
Studer Group, 2015
Future Leaders of Western (FLOW)
London, Ontario, September 2013 – June 2015
Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership
2013, 2014
Talent Management Conference
Effective Leaders in a Changing Health Care Environment, Western University
November 2012
Crucial Conversations Course
St. Joseph’s Health Care London, 2012
Crucial Accountability Course
St. Joseph’s Health Care London, 2014
International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services
Miami, April 2012
American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meetings
New York, Washington, and Hawaii, United States
Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (CAPL) Annual Meetings
2011-2016
Criminal Psychiatry and Law Course
Professor Phillip Resnick, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
September – December 2009
Civil Psychiatry and Law Course
Professor Phillip Resnick, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland, Ohio, January
April 2010
The Historical, Clinical, Risk Management (HCR-20) Violence Risk Assessment Scheme Training
North coast Behavioral Healthcare, Cleveland, Ohio
April 2010
Overview of Psychopathy,
Professor Robert Hare, Grand Rounds, Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
May 2009
American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Annual Meeting and Forensic Psychiatry Review Course, October 2008 and October 2009
The Historical, Clinical, Risk Management (HCR-20) Violence Risk Assessment Scheme and the Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R) Workshop
Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom
May 2005
The Expert Witness Institute Joint Conference
Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom
December 2004
The Role of Genetics in Antisocial Behavior Conference
Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom,
October 2004
COMMITTEES
Co-Chair, Seclusion and Restraint Minimization Committee and Chair, Workforce Development Sub-Committee, St. Joseph’s Health Care London
2013 – 2015
Advisory Committee, Department of Psychiatry, Western University
2012 – 2015
Joint Mental Health Leadership Council, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London
2012 – 2015
Regional Mental Health Care (RMHC), St. Joseph’s Health Care (SJHC) London, Operational Leadership Team, 2012 – 2015
Physician Leader Group (RMHC, SJHC) & Joint Physician Leader Group (RMHC & LHSC)
2012 – 2015
Physician Leadership Group, Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care (SWC),SJHC
2012-2015
Forensic Leadership Group, SWC, SJHC
March 2012 - 2015
Forensic Directors’ Group, Ontario, Canada
2012 – 2015
Medical Staff and Joint Medical Staff Group, SJHC & LHSC
2012 - 2015
In-patient Safety Group, Evidence-Based Practices in Forensic Mental Health Programs and Services Task Force Member
August 2011 – 2014
Professional Practice Advisory Committee Member, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
July 2011 – March 2012
Research Advisory Committee Internal Member, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Ontario, December 2010 – March 2012
The Prevention, Elimination, and Management of Severe Behaviors in Acute Psychosis or Dementia in a Tertiary Care Hospital Setting: Evidence-base and Best Practices, Steering Committee Member, Rounds Coordinator and Presenter (bi-monthly), Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
November 2010 – March 2012
Long-Term Seclusion Standards of Practice Rounds Attendee and Presenter (bi-monthly), Waypoint Center for Mental Health Care
September 2010 – March 2012
Grand Rounds Speaker Nomination Committee, Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
July 2007 – June 2009
Physician Professionalization Self-Awareness Group, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 2000 – 2001
Psychiatry Institute for Medical Students, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
April 2001
Post Graduate Year One Didactic Curriculum Review Committee Member, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Canada, 2003-2004