As summer approaches, it's a big moment for high school graduates. Going from Grade 12 to what comes next can be both exciting and stressful. This blog is here to help you manage that stress with some useful tips.

As humans, we all crave closeness to survive. Our first relationships, especially in our early years, play a crucial role in shaping how we connect with others and see ourselves. If these early connections provide safety, trust, love, and warmth, we're likely to have better health later in life. However, if these early relationships lack these essential elements, it can lead to a sense of disconnection from ourselves and others, contributing to poorer health outcomes as we age.

Did you know we are now offering Occupational Therapy here at Straight Up Health? With such exciting news, we asked our Occupational Therapist, Rose, some questions about what exactly is Occupational Therapy and how it differentiates from other kinds of therapy. Keep reading to find out!

In last months Blog Post, “What is ADHD, anyway?” we learned what ADHD is. Now that we know what it is, how can we learn to manage with it and help our children and friends who are struggling?

You may be wondering... what is ADHD?

ADHD is a brain-based condition caused by a lack of certain chemicals (ex., norepinephrine) commonly affecting areas of the brain that control attention, social judgment, and executive functioning.

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopment (neuro = meaning brain, developmental = meaning growing up) disorders in childhood, so it is no surprise that many people are wondering if they have it.

Holiday season is upon us!

For some, the holidays evoke feelings of joy, for others, dread maybe a more accurate description of the feelings associated with this time of year. Regardless of if or what you celebrate, this time of year typically comes with expectations, pressure, and challenges aplenty.

Learning about BIPOC/IBPOC issues is great, but doing something about these issues is even better! Show up for BIPOC/IBPOC communities in authentic ways! Be it on a micro or macro level, get involved in antiracism initiatives. Spread awareness, confront racism in your daily life, get involved in community organizing initiatives, or intentionally support BIPOC/IBPOC-owned businesses! Small actions can go a long way!

Today is the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Day 2022. Happy World Mental Health Day from your friends at Straight Up Health! With the fast-paced lives many of us live, it is important to take a moment and think about why this day matters. See below for some reasons we think World Mental Health Day Matters!

When you begin your day with a regular and consistent routine that you hold yourself accountable to, the benefits are noticeable almost immediately. You are able to set the tone and positive energy for the day from the second you wake up, making the flow of your job, relationships, etc, so much more fulfilling and effortless!

It is incredibly difficult to remain connected with ourselves in a world where we are overloaded with information. We are constantly receiving updates about current events, pop culture and what our friend’s new puppy has been up to. It is no surprise that our minds can often feel like they are going a million miles a minute.

DBT can be an effective way to reduce maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are causing distress in one’s life. Developing and applying skills for accepting reality and making positive changes are critical components to effective DBT.

Have you ever wondered how you can change your emotions and behaviors? Through a CBT practice, you can learn about the connection between your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions and how to alter your way of thinking.

Read more at the CBT Practical Guide!

Have you ever had a solid eight-hour sleep but still woke up feeling exhausted? Perhaps we are not fully resting in the way that we need to refuel ourselves. Saundra Dalton-Smith says, “if you’re not filling back up, that’s probably a place of deficit”. We need to know where we are lacking so we can intentionally rest and recover.

All of us have experienced trauma in some capacity, and responses to traumatic events can vary between us. Your experience of trauma may look different from someone else’s, and that’s okay.

Feeling apprehensive about how we will be perceived is a natural response to stressful social situations. Most people can relate to the uncomfortable feeling of having their stomach churn and hands clam up during a first date. However, social anxiety goes beyond these first date jitters.

The concept of boundaries has gained popularity in recent years, entering our mainstream lexicon. However, it has a much longer history in the field of family therapy. Coined by Salvador Minuchin, the founder of Structural Family Therapy, boundaries are the invisible lines that delineate physical and emotional distance between individuals.

Simone Biles decision to step down to focus on her mental health and overall well-being is emblematic of a broader movement to prioritize self-care and interrupt the rhythms of our performance oriented cultures, which often place productivity over individual well being. There are a number of key lessons we can take away from this.

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.