Over the past 16 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on various aspects of people’s lives: economic, physical, social, and emotional. While Ontario gradually reopens, we remember that one of the most vulnerable groups of pandemic-related mental health challenges is youth.

Loneliness has been shown to have adverse health implications such as increased levels of anxiety and depression as well as poor sleep. As such, developing strategies for coping with and mitigating loneliness is essential to ensuring our well-being during this challenging time. Below, we outline some of the steps that we can take to do so.

Black Canadians have made and continue to make enormous contributions to all sectors of Canadian society. Given that our focus is mental health, this blog post will focus on notable contributions of Black Canadians to the field of mental health and wellness.

Working and studying from home has given many of us the time to cultivate and care for houseplants. Having limited opportunities to be outside has also increased the allure of creating an indoor urban jungle. Our houseplants require lots of care and attention, including regular watering and feeding. However, they give us so much more in return. Not only do plants fill our homes with lush greenery, they can also teach us a lot about self and community care.

Our inability to stick to our New Year's resolutions is not a function of our laziness. Rather, I believe that it is a product of our hypercriticism and lack of self-compassion. Although it seems immensely counterintuitive, going easier on ourselves is a requisite to achieving our goals. Self-compassion is the ultimate antidote to the resolution flop.

Exam stress is a normal, or rather normalized, aspect of academic life. December brings with it the familiar sense of worry and trepidation as once distant exam dates get closer and closer. However, although exam pressure is commonly experienced by most, if not all, college and university students, it can have serious mental health consequences…

Fleece pajamas, hot chocolate and first flurries. These are some of my favourite things about Winter. But with Winter come shorter and drearier days. The “Winter Blues” is not an uncommon phenomenon…

Every so often, a documentary comes along that forces us to question a social reality that we have come to take for granted. Netflix’s Social Dilemma is one such documentary. Released just a few weeks ago, the documentary explores the detrimental impacts of social media with tech experts “raising the alarm on their own creations”…

In times of great uncertainty, it can feel like we’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean with no sight of shore. It can feel overwhelming and cause feelings of anxiety, worry, and defeat.

Here are five simple mindset shifts that can help calm the waves of emotion within, so we can better navigate turbulent waters we may come across…

The beginning of September is marked by a changing of the seasons and the familiar air of excitement and apprehension that marks a new academic year. For those of us who are entering our first year of college or university, these feelings are even more heightened. But this September is not the same as those before it…

Because Whiteness has been established as the cultural norm, many of us have never had to think critically about race and how heavily it impacts the lives of racialized communities and Black communities in particular. But the tragic murders of Black folks at the hands of police in recent weeks have triggered waves of protests and social unrest that have brought the issue of anti-Black racism to the forefront of our national discourse...

Therapy is a valuable resource for tackling emotional issues and navigating life's challenges. People seek therapy for various reasons, such as mental health issues, life transitions, and trauma. When looking for a therapist, it's crucial to consider differences in credentials, skills, experience, and approaches. What works for others may not be the best fit for you. We've provided a list of questions to help you determine if you've found the right therapist for your needs.

A helpful glossary of mental health terms for you to reference at any time.

EMDR Therapy suggests that our brains naturally want to heal and stay balanced. But when a traumatic event happens, it messes up the healing process. The brain struggles to deal with the trauma, leaving upsetting thoughts and emotions that make people feel stuck in that bad moment. EMDR steps in to help the brain process and reflect on those memories, so it can heal like it normally would, without the lingering distress.