We need good father figures: After days of suspense, the results are finally in for the recent US election, with Joe Biden being declared the winner. I found it particularly interesting that both candidates happened to be men in their seventies, and that got me thinking about the differences between a good father-figure and a […]
Covid restrictions lead to addictions: Reports have been coming out lately about the rising rates of addiction since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and it’s no surprise. As people are struggling with experiences of uncertainty and loss and feeling more and more out of control in their lives, it’s understandable that they’re turning to comfort food, […]
Political polarization is bad for our mental health: Last year, Psychology Today published an article about mental health and politics. The article, by Susan McQuillan, discussed the way that divisive politics are taking a toll on the mental health of Americans. The Psychology Today article discussed a study done by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It […]
When the holiday season meets the second wave of Covid-19: Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner and American Thanksgiving isn’t that far off, either. It’s unfortunate that just as the holiday season is upon us, the pandemic has entered a second wave. Just as we were starting to relax and the restrictions were easing […]
Our new normal includes malaise: That unpleasant sensation, rumbling around in our psyche, that so many of us are feeling these days? It’s called malaise. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “malaise” as “a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify.” These days, many of us are walking around […]
Everyone is moving indoors: Summer is nearly over and the cooler autumn weather has begun to set in. Here in Ontario, many of us have started to move our activities indoors. But in this time of Covid-19, the shift indoors could also mean an increased risk of infection. If we follow the public health guidelines […]
As I read articles and watch the news these days, it’s clear that even as the new school year is beginning, parents and teachers are feeling ill-prepared. It’s a frightening situation and all the uncertainty swirling around is making it harder for parents and teachers to cope. In fact, a recent Canadian Mental Health Association […]
A life-changing pandemic: These are unprecedented times. No-one could have imagined a global pandemic on this scale. All around the world, people’s lives have been immeasurably changed – some to a catastrophic degree. People are losing their livelihoods and their lives. Families that have lost loved ones are in mourning. People have lost their jobs […]
It’s back-to-school season: It’s August, and school will be starting shortly. Parents everywhere are faced with a real dilemma: “Do I send my kids to school and risk them catching, and potentially spreading, Covid-19?” Or, “Do I keep my kids at home and risk being unable to earn a living?” Parents are stuck between a […]
The rising number of Covid-19 infections in young people: When we think about the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections across Canada and the United States, one thing that’s clear is that young people are making up the majority of new cases. And it’s not surprising why. Young people across the globe are acting out against […]
