U of C stress studies receive $5M federal injection

Stress-related study projects at the University of Calgary got a $5-million boost from the federal government Monday.

Industry Minister Jim Prentice announced more than $5 million worth of grants for theuniversity's Hotchkiss Brain Institute, which is probing how mental stress affects people at work and how some brains process stress differently than others.

"The first step towards building better health care is cultivating strong health research projects and programs,"Prentice said at a news conference in Calgary,announcing $377 million for health research across Canada.

Prentice said poor mental health is costing the government $33 billion every year.

"By looking at stress and depression from a variety of scientific angles, we are better able to tackle a problem that puts a substantial burden on the Canadian health system, the economy, and the quality of life for millions of Canadians," said Jaideep S. Bains, an associate professor at the school.

Hotchkiss researchers are trying to find out where and how stress is triggered in the brain, in a search for a cure for depression.

Stress is an important and natural reaction, said Bains, but there can be too much of it.

"It's the inability to switch off this response that can cause long-term harm leading to the development of neuro-degenerative diseases, hypertension and depression."

One of the institute's studies is tracking employees for two years to find ways to help companies treat depression and other stress-related illnesses for their staff.

Prentice also announced $20 million in funding for the University of Alberta and about $200,000 for the University of Lethbridge.