BY AILEEN ZANGOUEI Cats are simultaneously our cuddliest, furry friends and the world’s biggest assholes. But when they’re not waking us up at 4 a.m. by plunking their entire bodies on our face, or knocking anything and everything that’s glass…
Trame Therapy is a natural, vibrational way to alleviate anxiety
BY AILEEN ZANGOUEI Imagine waking up, and immediately wanting to go back to sleep. You’re so tired already and the day hasn’t even begun. You’re tired because you think of all the things that have to be done today, and…
Pro-anorexia websites need to be criminalized
BY: NADIA ZAIDI At a time when hate speech and propaganda are igniting civil and world conflict, filtering what we read online is of paramount importance. Currently, there are underground websites that promote eating disorders, and they should be criminalized.…
Suicide rate among teenage girls reaches a 40 year high – is social media to blame?
In recent years the rate of young women committing suicide has climbed and reached a 40 year high as of 2015. And as of 2008 psychology today stated that the average teenager has as much anxiety today as a mental patient…
Men’s mental health is facing a silent crisis
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…
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.…
What is Somatic symptom disorder?
BY: NADIA ZAIDI Illustration by Xulin Wang It’s normal to worry about your health — in fact, it’s often necessary. A growing mole, or a heart flutter warrants concern. Showing your doctor suspect growths or sensations is responsible, sensible, and preventable. But for some…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Mental illness and video games: how it helps
Healing mental illness is a continuous process that involves plenty of fun activities with gaming on the forefront. The gaming industry in America alone is worth close to $20 billion and researchers at SuperData recently revealed that the video game-streaming service,…
5 popular fictional characters with mental illness
Mental illness touches the lives of everyone: whether they realize it or not. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), mental illness will affect 20% of Canadians at least once in their life. Real people aren’t the only ones…
Virtual reality treatments for physical and mental health could change the face of healthcare
BY: ELIJAH BASSETT Virtual reality technology has taken some huge steps forward in the last few years, with no signs of slowing down. And although a lot of the discussion around VR tends to focus on its applications for entertainment,…
Benadryl linked to mental illness
BY: NADIA ZAIDI It’s a pill found in most household medicine cabinets. It is trustworthy and effective, but could it lead to a mental illness? Potentially. A previous study published by Indiana University finds that diphenhydramine, an active ingredient in…
Dear parents and teachers: Mental illness isn’t always to blame
BY: NADIA ZAIDI School should be a place to learn and nurture social and intellectual development. Most importantly, it should be a place where students are safe. But schools are failing to maintain secure environments. A 12-year-old boy who was…
This woman is using poetry to give us an intimate look into her struggle with bulimia
BY: DUSTIN BATTY Eating disorders are such a taboo topic that people who struggle with them are usually hesitant to confide in even close friends or family. Kara-lee MacDonald, a young woman from northern British Columbia, combats this stigma with…
Video exhibition portrays the dark side of 1950s domestic life
BY: QUENTIN STUCKEY Sarah Anne Johnson may or may not be a familiar name, but her striking brand of photography has left a mark on Canadian art and culture. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Johnson’s diverse photographic exhibitions…