Entertainment and media can influence us in many ways, both positively and negatively, and how mental illnesses are portrayed through these media has the power to potentially heal – or harm – an audience. For the past eight years, Au Contraire film festival has been showcasing films that explore mental health and mental illnesses. The purpose: to […]
If you’ve been struggling with addiction to alcohol, you may not know what steps to take to acknowledge and deal with the problem. In many cases, people take their first steps toward recovery when a loved one stages an intervention for them. What do you do, though, if you realize you need to make a […]
It can be challenging to talk about mental health with friends and loved ones, as there is often a fear of being judged or misunderstood. In this post, I will share five tips for starting a conversation with your friend about their mental health. Why it’s important to have conversations about mental health Before we […]
Resiliency is close to the heart of what is needed to get sober and to stay sober. And Shawn C., an alum of EHN Canada’s Bellwood Treatment Centre, knows a thing or two about resiliency. He learned a lot about along the bumpy life path leading to the centre in Toronto’s Sunnybrook area. He is learning […]
The brain is one of the most complex and fascinating parts of the human body. It is responsible for all functions of the body including how we move, communicate, make decisions and interpret our surroundings. Our brain also processes our thoughts, behaviours, feelings, and emotions. This is why we can’t talk about mental health without […]
There is a misconception that being mentally healthy means being happy all the time. The expressions are well-known: keep your chin up, or your upper lip stiff. Who hasn’t heard the advice: when life hands you lemons, make lemonade? We’re here to suggest that you keep your chin where it is and do whatever you […]
One of the most traumatic and difficult events we can experience is the death of someone we know. News of a death can cause intense emotions. Even if the loss is not a surprise (due to illness), it can feel shocking. Grieving is the period of coming to terms with the realization that the deceased […]
