I sat across from my mother, watching her navigate another day of caring for my grandparents. Her weariness had become a familiar backdrop in my life — a constant reminder of the emotional and physical toll that caregiving demands. It was painful to witness her struggle, and despite my best efforts, I often felt helpless, […]
“Reason for referral: anxious depressive syndrome” was the only information I had about Alan (name changed for anonymity), my last patient in the clinic that afternoon. He was sent by his family doctor to the mental health team that supported primary care providers, where I worked as a mental health nurse. Alan nervously sat in […]
Many healthcare professionals continue to lack training on how to deal with the healthcare needs of people with serious mental illness. Stigma toward mental illness may be a significant influence when healthcare professionals think that patients are making up their symptoms or seeking attention. Yet the mortality rate in people with severe mental illness is […]
“It was one of the most complex experiences I’ve ever gone through. It came with a horrific sense of impending doom, while simultaneously trying to support her and trying to sort out how I even felt about her choosing to die. It was a horrible mix of grief and gratitude; both tragic and magic at […]
Organ transplants are on the rise. In Canada alone, transplant surgeries have increased by 22% from 2011 to 2020. But wait times make for great uncertainty and stress. Five years ago, Frank (name changed for anonymity) was put on an organ donation waitlist, which can take from 5 to 10 years. He and his wife […]
Our hair has so many implications for our self-image and mental health. For those affected by alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes severe hair loss, struggles around hair and self-esteem can be a daily issue. Abby (name changed for anonymity), first experienced signs of alopecia areata when she noticed a bald spot on her […]
When it comes to treating mental health disorders, the participation of family members can be a huge help. Family psychoeducation (FPE) refers to a group of psychotherapeutic interventions which aim to treat disorders by emphasising the role of family members as partners in care. FPE programs have seen extensive success when applied to a variety […]
Covert or emotional incest is a form of emotional abuse in which parents rely on their child to meet their emotional needs, the way they would an adult partner. The term was coined by Kenneth M Adams in the 1980s and is closely related to enmeshment, an area of Adams’ expertise. In an interview with […]
Virtual Reality (VR) is making waves in the field of mental health as emerging technologies have advanced in the last decade. Of particular interest to researchers this year is the potential role of VR in psychedelic experiences, both as a possible non-drug alternative as well as a companion to psychedelic therapy. Recent research describes an […]
Pet therapy is a service that offers animal-assisted emotional support to people struggling with a wide variety of mental health challenges. The animals used in pet therapy vary, with dogs and cats being the most common. And the use of animals for emotional and physical support go as far back as the 1600s. Today, the […]