Mental health

A person wearing a winter jacket and a beanie walking down a path surrounded by snow-covered trees
3 min 0 45

The season for seasonal affective disorder and the winter blues

Peak Web September 13, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer Someone with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) experiences depression related to daylight changes during seasonal transitions. Some of the symptoms of SAD overlap with common depression symptoms, like a loss of interest in activities, low energy, hopelessness, and sleep issues. Diagnostic criteria requires at least two consecutive years of depressive episodes, which are periods where symptoms of depression persist for at least two weeks. People living further north of the equator may be more likely to experience SAD during winter because daylengths shorten.   Spring and summer SAD is characterized by insomnia, while fall and winter…

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Portrait of NDP’s Gord Johns next to paper collage of the outline of a head with a flower blooming inside
3 min 0 1238

NDP MP Gord Johns introduces motion to increase mental health services

Peak Web June 7, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On April 27, New Democratic Party (NDP) member of parliament Gord Johns introduced motion M-31 in the House of Commons focused on mental health services in Canada. This is a private members’ motion: a motion…

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A small figure looks despairing at a yellow giant figure with a crown. The figure is a metaphor for the unachievable standard the figure projects onto himself.
6 min 0 562

A letter of challenge from a recovering perfectionist

Peak Web November 11, 2025

By: Noeka Nimmervoll, Staff Writer Are you a perfectionist? Start with this short checklist: Do you set big goals for yourself, yet feel no sense of accomplishment if you reach them?  Are you highly critical of yourself and/or others? Do…

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ILLUSTRATION: A warm bowl of Udon noodles, with cut tofu slices and vegetables (carrots, green onion) near the bowl
3 min 0 1647

Easy udon for when the executive isn’t functioning

Peak Web May 30, 2025

By: Noah Jozic, SFU Student A dear friend shared this recipe with me, knowing I was struggling to cook regularly because of mental health challenges. This super easy udon is her go-to when she is low on energy. I could…

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This is an illustration of a person doing a yoga pose standing on one leg with their arms above their head. Their heart and brain are drawn with happy faces.
3 min 0 1212

The mind and body are friends, so love them both

Peak Web January 17, 2025

By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer Content warning: brief mentions of mental health issues. Psychotherapy and physical therapy work great on their own. But wouldn’t it be better if they were used in conjunction, and that was the norm? Many people…

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A tree on the beach with a swing at sunset
5 min 0 1183

New year, no resolutions, just reflections on life

Peak Web January 9, 2025

By: Daniel Salcedo Rubio, Features Editor I ended 2023 and started 2024 in what I can only describe now as a miserable situation. I was living in a place where I no longer felt comfortable, and was becoming unsafe. However,…

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An illustration of a man holding text bubbles with typical messages found in self help books aimed to men, such as “Master attraction, charm, and seduction.”
5 min 0 1792

Unpacking patriarchal self-help

Peak Web October 7, 2024

By: Yildiz Subuk, Staff Writer The self-help industry, meaning books, media, and services geared towards personal growth and improvement, has grown to become a billion-dollar industry — in 2022, the self-help genre accounted for 17% of non-fiction book purchases in…

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This is a photo of Vansh Sobti wearing a cream-coloured anxiety hoodie and holding up a navy-coloured one to the left
3 min 0 4210

SFU student creates hoodie for people with anxiety

Peak Web September 17, 2024

By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer SFU Beedie student Vansh Sobti has designed an “anxiety hoodie” for his clothing brand Cloud Nine Clothing. Sobti’s clothing line was created to provide “ultimate comfort and relaxation” for students with their mental health in…

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The door to SFU’s Health and Counselling Centre.
4 min 0 1775

The BC government should pay for therapy

Peak Web June 27, 2024

By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff writer Right now, about 17% of BC residents are experiencing issues with mental health and substance use. If you’ve ever considered therapy or counselling, have you wondered if you’ll have to pay out of pocket? Psychotherapy…

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photo of a pair of gloves, skates, and a stick leaned up against a hockey net on an outdoor rink.
6 min 0 4554

The dark side of hockey

Peak Web March 27, 2024

By:  Kaja Antic, Sports Writer Content warning: mentions of substance use disorder, alcohol addiction, domestic violence, suicide, head trauma, and mental illness. The conversation surrounding mental health in hockey has been evolving in recent decades, only really gaining traction in…

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