Care and research at The Royal doesn't just serve Canadians; it contributes to better care around the world.
At The Royal, our teams have delivered many Canadian firsts in care, treatment, and research, and we continue to lead in areas where progress is urgently needed.
This work does not happen in isolation. It's made possible by decades of persistence to drive innovation and change.
Every breakthrough, every Canadian first, brings us closer to the goal of reclaiming lives from mental illness and addiction.
Here are four ways The Royal shapes mental illness and addiction care in Canada.
First in Canada: Stellate Ganglion Block as a treatment for PTSD
The Royal is evaluating a promising treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder called Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).
Our research is a Canadian first. Informed by the lived experience of veterans and backed by donor funding.
First in Canada: Ground-breaking brain imaging
The Royal is leading the nation with the creation of a revolutionary brain imaging research platform—the first of its kind in Canada—setting a new standard in mental illness care and discovery. This cutting-edge platform gives researchers an unprecedented, integrated view of the brain. This leap forward in brain science will drive earlier diagnoses, more precise treatments, and better outcomes for people living with mental illness.
First in Canada: Ketamine as a treatment option for depression
The first Canadian clinical trials of ketamine as a treatment for depression were conducted at The Royal. The discovery of ketamine's antidepressant effects has been hailed as one of the most significant breakthroughs in the past half-century, and we are proud to have been the first to see this value for our patients.
First in Canada: Feeling Safe brings life-changing care to people with psychosis
The Royal was the first in Canada to bring a leading-edge cognitive behavioural therapy into clinical care for people living with psychosis. Developed at Oxford University, the Feeling Safe program helps patients overcome persistent fears that fuel distressing symptoms by helping them regain their sense of security and confidence.
Now, The Royal is building on this work through research and expanding access even further by testing group-based delivery and sharing knowledge with other providers.
Media contact
The Royal
Alyssa Nader - Communications Specialist, The Royal, anader@theroyal.ca.
About The Royal
The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental illness and addiction treatment, research, and education hospitals, dedicated to supporting individuals aged 16 and older who are living with complex mental illness and addiction. Since opening in 1910, The Royal has grown into a trusted resource for people across eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec, and Nunavut.
With campuses in Ottawa and Brockville, and clinical teams working directly in homes and communities, The Royal delivers compassionate, evidence-informed care grounded in cutting-edge research, including through its partnership with the University of Ottawa and other academic and community partners. Its integrated model brings together care, research, education, and strategic partnerships to help build a future of recovery.
At The Royal, we separate the person from the illness, helping more people reclaim their lives.
