mental illness

Some medications and a stethoscope on a table
5 min 0 1903

Canada is too hasty to expand MAiD

Hailey Miller November 16, 2023

Content warning: mentions of ableism, death, Medical Assistance in Dying, substance use. In June 2016, Canada introduced Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). It provides medically-assisted death for those with chronic, terminal health conditions and patients who cannot benefit from other treatment options. As of March 17, 2024, access will be expanded to those with mental illnesses, and includes those who have a history of substance use disorders. Expanding MAiD instead of investing in other treatment options sends the message that it’s not worth the government’s effort to support these individuals, or that their struggle has no other means of treatment.…

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3 min 0 5307

Mental health advocacy doesn’t equal visibility for everyone

Carter Hemion May 26, 2021

Mental health awareness is vital to mitigating stigma around mental illnesses and improving access to health care, but awareness gestures often leave people out of the conversation. General mental health advocacy leaves out the most marginalized voices and their lived…

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3 min 0 1991

Bird Box delivers a deeper message that you may have overlooked

Marco Ovies January 19, 2019

At first glance, Netflix’s new original movie Bird Box may seem like your cookie-cutter suspense film, joining A Quiet Place and Don’t Breathe. With flat characters that never venture past their stereotypes, negative depictions of mental health, and an unsatisfying…

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3 min 0 1734

Don’t dismiss ADHD as an excuse to get drugs

Eva Zhu October 31, 2018

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that causes difficulty in brain function and development. Two common symptoms are hyperactive-impulsive thought and difficulty maintaining attention — symptoms with which I am all too familiar. I could be listening to…

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4 min 1 1798

Recent celebrity suicides outline room to improve mental health dialogue

Alexander Kenny June 27, 2018

In recent weeks, the world lost two iconic celebrities to suicide. It was a shock to all of us, as both appeared to be happy with their lives. The deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain stunned me. Spade was…

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4 min 0 1755

A love letter to those with mental illness

EIC June 20, 2016

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ey there. My name is Max, and if you’re reading this then I love you. For years, I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety. This past month, that struggle has become the defining factor of my life. My doctor calls it…

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3 min 1 1766

The Death of Small Creatures is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of psychological turmoil

EIC January 4, 2016

Trisha Cull will take your breath away in this jarring and revolutionary memoir. She bravely sheds light upon the raw and dark stream of consciousness of a woman struggling with multiple mental illnesses. Cull’s prose is utterly poetic, and her…

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3 min 3 1734

Reflecting on mental illness

EIC November 24, 2014

My name is Alison. I’m 21 years old, and I’m just about to finish my undergrad degree. I know it seems silly to introduce myself with my name and photo right there in the byline, but I think it’s important…

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