This post was written by my esteemed friend, Mette Keating, CEO of InDeVision. I first met Mette many years ago when I hired her to design an office and sanctuary in my home. Since then, she has soared to greater entrepreneurial heights. Mette is currently designing Mozilla's new 17.000 sq ft. space in Toronto. Book a free session with Mette to find out how you can make your space work for you. Can...
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One in five Canadians suffer from mental illness. It attacks people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures. Unfortunately, most of us won’t seek treatment. Why? It’s very difficult to talk about mental illness. It carries a stigma that leads to discrimination. We're afraid we’ll lose friendships and feel isolated. This leads to unnecessary suffering and death. Stigma is...
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It strikes again. I recognize the signs. I turn off my alarm and continue to lie awake in bed for hours. And take a shower? That's so, so hard to do. Because I have trouble getting out of bed. Normally, a shower is my first treat of the day. It cleanses, fortifies and equips me to handle any challenge that comes my way. What has hit me? Seasonal affective disorder. This is a form of depression...
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Taking a walk in a park where you're surrounded by nature can: lower depression ease tension, and increase your self-esteem This message comes from Mind, a leading British mental health charity, which is launching a new "green agenda" for mental health based on the concept of "ecotherapy." The study conducted by Essex University compared a half-hour country walk with a walk through an...
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What is yoga? This is an ancient Indian discipline which improves health, happiness and mind power through breathing techniques, exercise and meditation. Many people practice yoga as a spiritual path. Others do it for exercise. Either way, practising yoga yields many benefits including the following: Eight benefits of practising yoga  1. Increased Flexibility Yoga involves positions that act...
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At seventeen, Pat Deegan was diagnosed with schizophrenia. But she went on to receive a doctorate in clinical psychology. Dr. Deegan has conducted extensive interviews with people who struggle with psychiatric disabilities. When Deegan asked her research participants to describe their use of psychiatric medications, they all talked about a variety of non-pharmaceutical personal wellness strategies...
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Originally published in www.naturalhealthcare.ca Exercise caution in reading this article. Even if a statement made about alternative therapies is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. The medical information provided here is, at best, of a general nature and cannot be substituted for the advice of a medical professional (i.e. a qualified physician, nurse, or pharmacist). SAD SAD (Seasonal...
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Originally published in CityCollegeNews, George Brown College newsletter, November 30, 2005 How do we perceive immigrants from other cultures? Can we facilitate their mental health? Three speakers brought different perspectives on immigrants to the Seventh Annual World Mental Health Day forum hosted by the Redirection Through Education, For You, and Assistant Cook Extended Training programs of...
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Originally published in Meftih, June 2005 On May 9, 2005, Dr. Pat Deegan met with about forty consumer survivors at the Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre to speak about recovery. Deegan was diagnosed at seventeen with schizophrenia. The doctor prophesied 'doom and gloom' for her, saying that she would be on medications and that she would be sick for the rest of her life. She became angry...
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Originally published in Meftih, November 2006 It is not unusual to feel sad or depressed from time to time. Sadness is a normal reaction to loss, life’s struggles or injured self-esteem. Sometimes, however, these feelings are so continually intense that they interfere with one’s ability to think, work, eat, sleep, enjoy being with others or care for one’s self. When someone experiences a debilitating...
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Published in The Six-Thirty Network, a newsletter of Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto, July 2005 “My dearest brother Wils, You were barely ten years old when your innocent world was shattered by Mom and Dad’s divorce. You gradually became sad and aloof. As your four older siblings left home for university or careers, you struggled all alone with your pain. Mom, wrapped in her own grief,...
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Written for Mental Health Matters, A Newsletter of CHMA, December 2007 Issue When Charlotte Cameron began to serve on the board of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Toronto, she recognized the agency's role in advocacy for, and education about, mental health issues. To capably meet that role, CMHA Toronto has to be well-administered and adequately funded. Cameron said, "CMHA is like a...
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