Responded to an ad asking for depressed individuals to participate in a clinical trial. After its conclusion during my last meeting with Dr Bakish, he took a slip of paper from a brass business card dispenser sitting on his desk and handed it to me. It was a short printout indicating I was bipolar. This information came out of the blue with no real conversation behind it. Interestingly, an acquaintance had the same experience. Two full psychiatric assessments over the years since there's been absolutely no evidence supporting the bipolar diagnosis. On reflection, it seems David Bakish was interested in pushing the brands of pharmacy companies with whom he worked. Was he taking kickbacks? I can tell you in our conversations he boasted about his luxury lifestyle. Makes me wonder.

Submitted Nov. 23, 2023

I have been having issues with medications that didn't seem to work for years, and side effects that were causing me to have poor sleep - which only caused my original symptoms to be much worse. I did a lot of reading online and went to see different specialists, each having their own advice and prescribing meds. I basically did an information dump in my session, and he pieced it all together for me, explaining why the prescribed drugs were causing the side effects. I even asked as an aside about my son's, and he was more than happy to answer my question. I came in here to leave a review, and noticed people unhappy about the recommendation to go with the real drugs. I had it described why in my session. Some of these generic ones release the drug too quickly into your system, and don't provide a slow release. That's why I experienced side effects, because the drug dump in my body was too quick. That makes so much sense, and I'm grateful to finally have an answer to why I all of a sudden, I had side effects while trying to fall asleep at night. From a knowledge perspective, he has a vast amount of knowledge when it comes to medications. I'd recommend to sit down and write out a list of questions and concerns, a list symptoms big and small that you experience, and have it with you during the appointment. You'll likely have the same experience as I did, if you ask questions. I don't normally write reviews, but do when I am impressed by a doctor that can piece things together and give answers to all of my questions. It's a relief to finally understand what was happening to me and why, when nobody else has been able to do up until this point. Being an engineer, I appreciate having answers, to get me back to a high functioning state again. There's nothing more frustrating than to not be able to do your job as before, due to symptoms that you can't control or explain. If referred by a GP for medication review, it is a one-time session, so it's really a good idea to be prepared going in. He would be one of the people that a GP consults with, to get feedback on prescribed meds. The pharmacies get the kickbacks on generic drugs, so even though I was prescribed the original drug by my GP in the past, the pharmacy actually gave me a generic drug in it's place, which didn't work the same. My partner also shared this experience, and sometimes the generic ones work, but sometimes that just don't. That's why he had to have his GP write "no substitutions" on his prescription upon learning that my partner wasn't given the named drug on the prescription. He noticed the difference between the original and the generic. I didn't get the impression that he was pushing a brand name drug - he simply wanted to recommend the best drug to address my original symptoms and the side effects of taking other drugs.

Submitted May 9, 2023

His intentions towards me was not done from a pure heart. Why prescribe a medication that causes arthritic type pain.
I heard going into the Royal Mental Hospital, you never come out the same. So true, in my case!!!

Submitted Sept. 29, 2022

I was diagnosed with ptsd initially in 2009. I eventually reached out for help again in 2013. Dr Bakish was a life saver, he listened, he cared, we tried different medications to get me stable. He was more concerned about my well being and health than a lot more people had been. I know a lot of others whom he'd seen and treated each of them gave high praise to him.

Submitted Feb. 18, 2022

This man saved my life and was the only doc to actually listen and explain what the meds were going to be like. He's not for weak minded people though.

Submitted Feb. 1, 2022

Just like all the other reviews he mentions name brand drugs will make all the difference. Tells me how to get a card to get a discount or free. Spent 10 min and told me my diagnosis ( i did do a questionnaire with his nurse prior). He is part right but failed to include all my past. and only focused on one situation for diagnosis. I kinda froze up when he asked me if I had questions and I said no because I froze. I called back the office to ask to speak to the doctor bc I had a lot of concerns and she said it was too late to talk to him and the report is already done. My fault in a sense but I had a egitimate reason to want to talk to him. He was quick to talk and gave me no advice except said "try to go out" as one of my issues is agoraphobia. Would love to speak to a different doctor and get a 2nd opinion.

Submitted June 20, 2021

I also experienced the "name brand drugs cure everything" speech. He dismissed my concerns and just went on saying that if I switch to name brand versions of my medications they will become miracle drugs basically. He gave me the cards to get the discount on them which just made me suspect he gets money from the drug companies. He also put me on a new medication for off label reasons and it didnt do anything. Nothing he said ended up being true and it was a huge waste of time. He also used the word "horny" when asking me about my sex drive which was pretty weird, especially since I didn't mention issues with sex drive at that point... I would not want to talk to him again.

Submitted Feb. 18, 2021

I saw Dr Bakish last Feburary (2020), and to say he doesn’t care about his patients is the truth. He only cares about prescribing you MULTIPLE BRAND NAME drugs, and informs you of all the drug cards you’ll need to be able to access these. He also did not properly diagnose me, and suggested I go read some books on the disorders i may have but he’s not sure... I spent most of this appointment feeling ashamed of myself, and wanting to crawl out of his office window. This man has the most unwelcoming presence ever, he as well mentioned that it’s obvious that i am depressed due to my fashion choices (which was black clothing), and he later touched my hair which was pink at the time, and made some comment about how i can’t be all that depressed with pink hair. I truly believe Dr David Bakish is the downfall of mental health resources, and to see him working at such an influential place such as the Royal is repulsive, and they should be ASHAMED to call him on of their own. He clearly has a hand in big pharma, and i can say if anyone is planning to go see him, save your time, money, energy, and sanity, because he doesn’t care...

Submitted Feb. 4, 2021

went and saw Dr.Bakish after waiting years to get help with my mental health, tired of having my family doctor push pills and not really take much thought into what was actually wrong, i was looking forward to a professional finally diagnose me and help me find the right medication and treatment. This wasnt the case.

I am a transgender male, the first thing he said to me was "are you legally a male" and when i responded yes he said "oh good then I can call you he" as if to say that he wouldnt call me he even to make me feel confortable if it wasnt legal. When I told him I got kicked out for being transgender when i was 17 he said "thats fair"

He based the entire thing off a questionaire a social worker did with no other questions asked All he told me that i needed to switch from generic to name brand medication immidiatly that generic doesnt worked and perscribed me an anti-convulsant to help me sleep even tho I am already on a perscription sleep aid. I would bring up concerns about my trauma, ocd and adhd symptoms and would say "well if you do have those then the medication will fix it." He told me that most of my problems were caused by a benign brain cyst I have (neurologists have told me it isn't putting pressure on anything) I brought up that I was suicidal and self harmed and he said nothing except to take medication. The entire thing was a 15 minute appointment. I felt unseen, unheard, like just another person to make money off of from medication. I have never recieved worse treatment from a medical professional, I left the appointment feeling worse than when it started

Submitted Aug. 29, 2020

Lifted my mood with his caring manner and thorough understanding of my situation.

Submitted June 23, 2020