Suicide Prevention

If you or someone you know are in a crisis and need help right now, please call 911. If you are in need of resources or help, call 310-OPEN (6736). It is a free, confidential service to get information, support and referral to all mental health and addictions services in Hastings & Prince Edward Counties in Ontario, Canada. Suicide is a troubling topic that most of us would rather not deal...

You Are Enough—Social Anxiety and All

When you don’t feel comfortable in social situations, it can be a lonely world. Take my youngest son. Despite his intelligence, kindness, and great sense of humor, he’s shy about reaching out to others. In comparison to many of his peers, he seems to spend a lot of time alone and rarely joins group activities. Now that he’s about to go off to college, I worry that he may have...

Testing a web-based application for depression and concerning gambling

Researchers at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax have built a web-based app to help people change their behaviours and improve their mood. The researchers are looking for participants all around Canada to use it and give their feedback on the app. You may want to join this research project if you are, or know someone who is: 14-40 years old? sometimes feels sad, down, or depressed and/or has...

Why ‘getting lost in a book’ is so good for you, according to science

Whether you’re the reader who rips through a new book each week or the one still slogging through that bestseller your friend recommended months ago, psychologists (and their research) say your time is being well spent. And if it’s been a while since your last date with a good book, the experts have a few reasons that might convince you to give it another go. “One of the...

7 things that are good examples of self-care and 7 things that aren’t

Happy International Self-Care Day!! What are some of your go-to self-care methods?    The term "self-care" has been thrown around a lot lately since it's become en vogue to discuss the nice things you do for yourself in the name of being your own best nurturer. To help you understand how this concept is applied to daily life, I asked Dr. Kristen Lee — "Dr. Kris" — to give us...

BE A UNIQUE FLOWER! Learn to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others and Be Happy Being You!

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Theodore Roosevelt Who do you most frequently compare yourself to? If you’re not sure, try this question: Who have you compared yourself to in the last 24 hours? If you’re still not sure, think of the last time you checked your Facebook or Instagram feed. Which updates made you feel envious, or made you feel as if your...