The brutal treatment of George Floyd that resulted in death has hit on a chord with far-reaching intensity. The specifics were revealed because Damella Frazier, 17, had the presence of mind to film the almost-unbelievable incident that occurred in Minneapolis on May 25,2020.
[More]
Across cultures it is accepted that it is a terrible thing to die alone. During the present covid-19 epidemic the televised vision of refrigerated trucks filled with the dead has been especially disturbing. Why is that? Of course it is tragic when large numbers of people die. It is also frightening. Part of what appears to be at play here is that the fear of being unknown and alone is projected on to what an individual,who is a witness, has conjured up in his/her mind as a picture of lives uncelebrated and discarded.
[More]
Across cultural and religious norms, food has been symbolic for attempts to heal the hurt. Death leaves a hole. Some are far deeper and filled with more despair than others.
The loss of a parent, a child, a spouse, a close friend, and/or the loss of a pet companion commonly leaves a feeling of emptiness. This emptiness may well engulf body and soul. Who to lean on? Who to pick up the role that has, literally, turned to dust? How to withstand the pain that cannot (and should not) be ignored?
[More]
January 27, 2020
by Amy Rollo
I’m not a huge basketball fan, but when the alert that Kobe Bryant died suddenly in a helicopter crash came on my screen, I immediately felt shock. I felt this sense of sadness and tried to make sense of how someone so known and famous, could be taken so suddenly. I have felt similar emotions when other famous actors or athletes passed. It is completely normal to feel sadness or grief when someone famous dies. There are several reasons we might feel these intense emotions.
[More]
March 31, 2019
by Elizabeth Pratt
The recent deaths of two Marjory Stoneman Douglas students and the father of a Sandy Hook victim have experts calling for better mental health support for those who survive mass shootings.
[More]
September 24, 2018
by Hilda Huj
Over the years Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has become increasingly
[More]
September 11, 2018
by Kimberly Lucey
Whether its organizing a walk, honoring a loved one's memory, or raising money for awareness, millions will remember those lost to suicide on September 10th.
[More]
August 17, 2018
by Tina Arnoldi
Although losing two family members to suicide is difficult to imagine, it is something Dennis Gillan, a mental health advocate has experienced.
[More]
August 14, 2018
by Suzanne Jessee
Most people are familiar with the term PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD refers to a traumatic event that the individual has witnessed or experienced that they have great difficulty overcoming emotionally. Complex PTSD or C-PTSD refers to ongoing trauma, such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, multiple combat deployments, being the victim of sex trafficking, or being kidnapped for a prolonged time—situations that were ongoing, harmful and abusive, and where the victim feels trapped.
[More]
November 23, 2017
by Tracey Block
It is no secret that North Americans watch a lot of television. Researchers have long discussed the negative effects of too many sedentary hours hypnotised by the glow of the screen. And now along comes 'binge-watching'. With the advent of TV streaming services, we now spend evenings, days or weekends watching entire seasons of our favorite shows. Can our mental health and overall wellbeing survive this kind of (in)activity?
[More]