Editorial
ADHD and the “Culture” of Psychology: A Call to Reinvestigate Biomedical Universality
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is biomedically defined as a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that can impact functioning in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, executive functioning impairments, inattention, and inappropriate levels of impulsivity [1]. In a culture of increasing medicalization, amorphously-defined psychiatric conditions increasingly become the object of interest of medical anthropologists, whose scope of study includes the differential definitions and considerations of diseases across cultures and time.
Advancing Health Equity: The Impacts of SDoH on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Law directly impacts the health and well-being of citizens, whether positively or negatively. While the law strives towards health equity, certain social determinants of health (SDoH) put individuals at a disadvantage and undermine their wellbeing [1]. The health issues vulnerable social groups face can be attributed to the cultural, socio-economic, and environmental conditions they experience [1]…
Addressing Mental Health Service Access among Black Canadians
As conceptualized by the World Health Organization, mental health is the state of well-being where an individual can deal with stressors, be productive, and an active member within their community [1]. It extends beyond the absence of mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression to include a positive sense of well-being and the capacity to enjoy life [2]…
Addressing Mental Health to Increase Isolation Compliance: We Are All in this Together
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, people around the world are being asked to self-isolate for at least a period of 14 days, and socially distance from one another…
Climate on the Mind: The Psychological Effects of Climate Change
Daily life is relatively unpredictable. The lack of job security, capricious governments, stagnating economic growth, along with the micro-annoyances of an average day, can amount to significant loads of stress.
Addressing Stigma through a Theatre-Based Program in Western Kenya
The streets of Eldoret, Kenya play a critical role in the lives of street-connected youth who often find themselves in situations that violate their basic human rights…
Mental Health, the Global Sphere, and UofT
The juxtaposition of mental health with campus life can be troubling for many, as the holistic experience of a post-secondary education comes with a host of challenges that students are usually ill-equipped to handle…
Mental Health Impacts of Violence Against Women
Sexual violence and domestic abuse is both mental and physical. Studies evaluating the link between violence against women and depression have demonstrated that women who have experienced violence were associated with much higher rates of depression…
The Great Canadian Mental Health Disparity: Suicide Rates Among the Inuit
World Mental Health Day took place on October 10th, and offered us a chance to reflect on the mental health status of Canadians and our awareness of mental health issues. On September 22nd, Bell renewed its commitment to the well-known “Bell Let’s Talk” program for another five years with at least $100 million in total funding…
Addressing Global Mental Health: The Role of Sustainable Development Goals
On September 25, the United Nations voted unanimously to enact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” officially comes into effect on 1 January 2016, essentially replacing the Millennium Development Goals that expire later this year…
Jumping on the Global Mental Health Bandwagon? Injustices Preventing the Reduction of the Mental Health Treatment Gap
Global Mental Health is defined as a field which “aims to improve treatments, increase access to services, and reduce human rights abuses of people experiencing mental disorders” 1. Many countries have become increasingly interested in Global Mental Health issues and have consequently attempted to place mental health at the forefront of practice and politics…