You may have heard of the term “personality disorder” before, as it’s been prevalent in pop culture, whether it’s our favourite fictional characters or influential people in the media. According to a survey by the National Institute of Mental Health,…
This new yoga challenge is taking over social media (video)
BY: NADIA ZAIDI Have you tried the new yoga challenge? People all over the Internet have been attempting difficult yoga poses in a pair of leggings, either on their own or with a friend or partner. I have chosen to…
Puppies Behind Bars lets prison inmates raise service dogs
BY: SYDNEY KEEFE Puppies Behind Bars began in New York in 1997 and its mission is to have prisoners raise and train service dogs for wounded war veterans. After 9/11 Puppies Behind Bars branched out into training explosive detection canines for…
How to get off antidepressants without losing your mind
BY: NADIA ZAIDI Getting off antidepressants is one of the most difficult things to do. Believe me, I’ve been there. It’s one of the reasons I have an affliction toward them in the first place. I think the risks and…
UK festivals will let you test your drugs before tripping out this summer
BY: JESSICA BEUKER Last July, the summer music festival, Secret Garden Party, became the first ever UK festival to offer its attendees a somewhat controversial service – drug testing. Festival goers were given the opportunity to take their drugs to a…
Why is everyone depressed?
BY: DAYTON UTTINGER There’s been a lot done to help those with mental illnesses. We’ve raised awareness, promoted help lines and worked (and continue to work) to remove the stigma. While we still have a long way to go, we’ve…
How travelling can help improve your mental health
One of society’s greatest ironies is how disconnected we can feel despite the level of connectivity with our technologies. The constant smartphone and Internet use can be taxing and unplugging once in a while has numerous mental health benefits. Going…
It turns out being a vegetarian is not actually better for the environment
Reader, beware! What I am about to tell you is difficult to share and tough to swallow. While ignorance may be bliss, the subject is all too urgent and both vegetable and meat eating readers alike deserve to know. After…
Haunting images of a deserted Central Park at night are both beautiful and eerie
BY: SYDNEY KEEFE Michael Massaia is a New Jersey based photographer who from 2008 to 2014 suffered from insomnia and spent his waking hours wandering around New York City. Eventually he stumbled into the renowned Central Park. The product of…
What does Capitalism do to our sense of Nudity?
BY: IVA CELEBIC I have spent many of my summers on the coast of Croatia, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I grew up in a secular communist Yugoslavian home, but was the first Canadian…
Facebook is turning you into a narcissist
BY: PHILIPPE DE JOCAS Who likes a narcissist? Between their self-obsession, callous disregard for the feelings and opinions of others, and inclination towards reckless and sometimes sociopathic behaviors, the answer is simple: only one person – themselves! Are you a…
Robots will soon be able to perform colonoscopies
BY: NADIA ZAIDI I’m surprised that Robots haven’t yet replaced humans. From jobs to performance, they have beaten us at our own game. Ironically, humans make them, and apparently a little too well. You don’t need a surgeon’s steady hand…
World hunger and biodiversity loss could be solved by the empowerment of women around the world
BY: DUSTIN BATTY The education and empowerment of women around the world is a crucial step towards a better and brighter future. It promotes equality, combats societally encouraged oppression, and vastly improves a nation’s economic and developmental potential. A recent…
Mental illness: 5 famous portrayals
Some of the greatest Hollywood films deal with subject matter that hits close to our hearts, such as protagonists with mental illness. Much like Vivien Leigh’s portrayal of the histrionic Scarlett O’Hara from the classic Gone with the Wind, several other…
You don’t need to have sex to contract a sexually transmitted infection
BY: NADIA ZAIDI I promise that your parents didn’t sponsor this piece. We all remember learning about the dangers of sexually transmitted infections — heck, it’s still frightening. Wake up with a blister in the wrong area and maybe you’re…
How to make your camping vehicle green for your next camping trip
BY: PHILIPPE DE JOCAS When you think of climate change, what immediate suspects come to mind? Coal mines and factories, certainly, but don’t forget trucks, heavy freight trains, and other diesel-fueled behemoths. They’ve all played a role in the global…
An ancient Chinese traditional medicinal herb is being used to treat malaria patients in Africa
BY: DUSTIN BATTY Although malaria is affecting people around the world from Asia to South America, the vast majority of malaria cases are in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “88% of global cases [of malaria] and 90%…
Polyphasic sleep patterns let you sleep three hours a night
BY: PHILIPPE DE JOCAS Feeling tired? You’re not alone. In the United States alone, more than 50 million adults claim to have some kind of sleep disorder that prevents them from getting their requisite forty winks each night. Terrifyingly, 37…
Greening the desert shows food can be grown in the driest places on Earth
Deserts are not normally considered agriculturally productive environments. The are (often) very hot and (always) very dry. Without an abundance of plants, the soil lacks organic materials and nutrition necessary to grow healthy food. A project in one of the…
Here’s what to do when you see animal abuse
BY: RHIANN MOORE Animal abuse can be a complex issue, particularly for those who have had little experience as an animal owner. While the idea of reporting abuse is intimidating, it’s crucial to take the necessary steps when you believe…