BY: NADIA ZAIDI Featured Illustration by Xulin Wang Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day was on June 13, 2017, and it served as a reminder that men, too, can suffer from anxiety, depression and a range of mental illnesses. The constructs…
5 steps to better mental health
BY: NADIA ZAIDI Mental health requires nourishment and nurturing. We often take it for granted. Magic pills aren’t the solution, and therapy is the beginning to a whole new lifestyle change. There are simple, yet crucial things you can do…
America’s dirty history of lunatic asylums and their forgotten patients
BY: SYDNEY KEEFE Featured Illustration by Xulin Wang The history of mental institutions in the world is a relatively short one. The modern institution began in the 18th century. They began as lunatic asylums and eventually morphed into psychiatry hospitals.…
Fidget spinners are not the way to cope with ADHD
BY: NADIA ZAIDI From shopping centres to grocery stores, fidget spinners are being sold everywhere — and the Internet is no exception. But what the heck are they, and how did they become the latest craze? Fidget spinners are exactly what they…
Steps to a happy, healthier brain
BY: NADIA ZAIDI The brain is the most crucial and complex human organ. And yet we fail to take care of it the way we do our heart, liver, and stomach. We must nurture our brains in a way that…
Wine may prevent Alzheimer’s disease
It comes in many forms – red, white, sweet, sour, aged, fresh. Who doesn’t like to recline with a glass of wine after a hard day? Humans have been brewing and drinking alcohol for thousands of years, and you don’t…
What is Exploding Head Syndrome?
BY: NADIA ZAIDI Imagine going to sleep with the sounds of gunfire, or a large object crashing to the ground? No, these aren’t the night terrors of someone living in the war-torn third world. It happens every single night, inside…
Mental health and children: why we need to teach kids about mental health
Talking to children can be challenging especially if it involves serious matters of an adult nature. Mental health is one of those matters, but like sex education, it is a subject matter that needs to be properly communicated to young…
Mental illness: 5 ways it also affects your loved ones
One in every four people will suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives. Mental illness doesn’t just involve those affected but also those close to them: their family and friends. Let’s take a look at how mental…
The most effective herbs for sleep and relaxation
BY: JANE COLLINS Sleep is one of the things that every human being must have for survival. But, just because it is important does not mean that it always comes easy. With busy work and life schedules – and the…
What is a personality disorder? The 10 types
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Signs of depression and potential causes
Every normal healthy human being has bouts of loneliness and sadness but these are entirely separate from depression, a mentally debilitating sickness that is said to affect one in every four people at least once in their lifetime. Whilst the…
How art can heal mental illness
Merriam-webster defines art as “the use of skill and creative imagination in creating aesthetic objects such as paintings, music, and sculptures.” But that is a superficial definition. Art goes beyond definitions but is what enriches life and touches each of…
If you’re a liar you probably have higher self-esteem and more friends
BY: PHILIPPE DE JOCAS In Carlo Collodi’s classic children’s book Pinocchio, the eponymous puppet finds himself caught in an awkward predicament: trying to explain to the Blue Fairy how he got captured while simultaneously trying to absolve himself of guilt.…