I've cried in public more times than I can count. I've cried openly on the bus after saying goodbye to a loved one, I've cried at parties, and I've cried at work. Yesterday I sat in a coffee shop and told a trusted friend about a bunch of shit that I've been going through lately, … Continue reading Reflections on public pain and collective rage at the end of 2016
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's approach to mental health is completely individualist, over-simplistic and useless for most of us who struggle with anxiety, depression, and trauma. It's also not new.
That last couple of years I have been trying to eliminate chemicals from my life. I started by using only vinegar and baking soda to clean my house. Then I started washing my hair with vinegar, dyeing it with lemon juice, and moisturizing it with coconut oil. Then I stumbled on a blog post about … Continue reading DIY, self love, and re-defining legitimate knowledge
Someone asked me recently what my favourite self care strategies are. It seemed like a reasonable question until I realized that I had no idea what the answer is. I drew a complete blank. Which is weird, because I'm a mental health activist and I spend a lot of time thinking about how to take care … Continue reading Why I don’t believe in “self care” (and how to make it obsolete)
Trigger warning: the following includes discussion of health care professionals, depression, anxiety and mood disorders in general. It's June of the year I turned 23. I have just moved across the country, from Ottawa to Vancouver, and into my mother's house, because I am too sick to work and can't afford to pay my rent. The … Continue reading Five major barriers to basic mental health care
Some friends and I have been talking lately about the ways that people with learning disabilities, developmental disabilities and mental health issues have become excluded from the social justice organizations that we have been a part of. Even in grassroots collectives and unions that strive to be inclusive and where people know how to talk about … Continue reading How to make your social movement more inclusive of neurodiversity
