The Fine Art of Aging and Learning to Treat Yourself Better

 Last week, I turned 49 years old. My birthday was quiet but nice. A friend came over briefly to give me a card. I had planned a small party for Saturday evening, but my lungs were feeling messy, so I played it safe. I’ve been hearing a lot about respiratory

One person’s story of being in isolation due to Covid

 Recently, I was chatting to a long-time friend of mine about Covid-19. They live in a local care facility. Out of respect for their privacy and any possible ramifications, I won’t mention their name or where they live. But I did want to share their story partly because it’s rarely

Getting family support during the pandemic

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, My husband and I live in a rented apartment building with paper thin walls! Recently we have heard frequent loud arguments, yelling, banging and the sounds of crying children coming from our neighbours unit. We have concerns about the well-being of the toddler and infant who live

Stress less by regaining control in your daily life

 A little stress in our lives is inevitable, and nothing to worry about. Sadly, exposure to significant stress levels on a continuous basis will harm your physical and mental wellness. Worse still, even if you’re good at denying the issues to your friends, it’s impossible to hide it from your

A look back at 2020 and what I’ve learned

 The new year’s almost here. In a few days, we’ll all be rolling into 2021 together. My original topic this week was to take a look back at 2020. The more I thought about it and browsed online; I noticed that others beat me to it. Also, let’s face it,

Advice on looking after your mental health during the winter in the age of Covid

 As we move closer to Winter, many people may feel depressed and isolated. This is particularly true this year due to Covid-19. For people with disabilities, the Winter months can affect us in a multitude of ways. During the Winter season, many PWD stay home. This is due to cold

Permanent, affordable housing is needed to protect Ottawa’s homeless

 Above: Peter Tilley, CEO of the Ottawa Mission Towards the end of 2019, the Ottawa Mission was having difficulties sheltering all the homeless people under its roof, despite having recently expanded their housing department. Now, both the number of meals being served per day and the number of people staying

Dealing with stigma and mental health

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, My teenaged son lives with anxiety and depression. Last year his physician thought he needed some time away from school. Upon his return, my son felt that many of his fellow students were avoiding him and/or judging him. Are attitudes of shame and blame common? How can

Combating loneliness and lifting yourself out of the slump

 Why Do I Feel So Lonely? Chris looked down and played with his fingers as he said to me, “I shouldn’t be depressed… I have everything I need and should be a happy person, but I’m in a pretty sad mood most of the time. When I think about it

Breathing exercises to improve mental wellbeing

 Whether we are anxious or relaxed, our breathing reflects these emotions in the nervous system. Thankfully, we can change our nervous system and emotions by becoming aware of and modifying our breath through breathing exercises. Breathing exercises can promote relaxation, help reduce pain, and improve mental wellbeing. Abdominal breathing, also

Canada must learn lessons from Belgium on assisted dying legislation

 By Trudo Lemmens While we were debating in Canada the potential expansion to our Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) law, a criminal trial concluded in Belgium against three physicians involved in the death of Tine Nys. Diagnosed in 2010 at age 37 with Asperger’s, Nys received MAID under Belgium’s liberal

Pretty damn crazy!

 “Hey mom, I just can’t do it anymore! . . . It’s over! . . . He’s out and I’m a mess!” “Can I crash with you while I sort myself out?” That desperate call came to my friend Leah, about one year ago. “Another one bites the dust!” she

Mental health in Ottawa: Know the facts

 Mental health is a crucial component of overall health. Mental disorders constitute various behaviors associated with impaired functioning and stress. People of all races, ages, and social backgrounds can suffer from mental illness. In Ottawa, many people suffer from mental health challenges, even though 72% of them perceive themselves to

Mental health therapies should be fully funded by medicare

 By: Helen-Maria Vasiliadis Media headlines tell us in detail about the mental health struggles of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain before their deaths by suicide.  But what too often goes untold are the stories of thousands of people who die by suicide every year in Canada – our friends, relatives,

Homewood Health — Ottawa Life speaks high quality care with Homewood chief

 Homewood Health is one of Canada’s largest and leading facilities for medical treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. With over 4,500 employees and clinical experts, they provide mental health and addiction services to help Canadians across the country live healthier, more productive and more fulfilling lives. Their services includes

Reflections from the Other Side of Reason – The edge of almost

 Since 2013, recognized author and community leader for mental health, David Gibson, has battled the inner world of PTSD to find some measure of hope within. He uses his writing to explore how his journey as a survivor has enabled him to come to terms with PTSD and the new reality

Reflections from the Other Side of Reason – The Timeless gift

 Since 2013, recognized author and community leader for mental health, David Gibson, has battled the inner world of PTSD to find some measure of hope within. He uses his writing to explore how his journey as a survivor has enabled him to come to terms with PTSD and the new reality

Reflections from the Other Side of Reason – Emergence

 Since 2013, recognized author and community leader for mental health, David Gibson, has battled the inner world of PTSD to find some measure of hope within. He uses his writing to explore how his journey as a survivor has enabled him to come to terms with PTSD and the new reality

Homewood Health — recognizing addiction as a mental health issue

 Photo courtesy of Shutterstock National network of mental health and addiction treatment clinics Homewood Health has acquired another facility, this time in Montreal, called Homewood du Plateau. Homewood Health acquired half of the facility in 2014, and the 16-bed residence is now a fully-functional, bilingual treatment centre for people struggling

Resolving the Root Causes of ADHD

 The incidence of Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is on the rise in Canada. Why is this? It is not just genetics or bad luck. Environmental factors, like diet, do play a role, despite what conventional medicine might say. In this article, we will discuss how environmental factors do

J and J Gibberish: Mental Health? Trash the Term. Think about Being Mentally Healthy

 Photo credit: Jennifer Hartley  This week is the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week. Yay! So much has been done to raise awareness over the years. There is absolutely no question that the discussion around mental health has increased over the last few years, even since I began my

Citizens Demand Provincial Government Tackle Mental Health

 By Yasmine Ghania The Provincial Government is not doing enough for mental health. At a town hall in Ottawa, over a dozen citizens spoke about the insufficient funding and poor access to mental health services that they have experienced in the province. Photo by Yasmine Ghania The keynote speaker for this

J & J’s Gibberish: ADHD — It IS a Real Thing — Part 1

 One mother's weekly journey in raising her special needs children.  It was with great fascination that I have been learning about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  I have to be honest here and say that I had been extremely cynical about the whole ADHD thing.  For starters, and I mean

J & J’s Gibberish: Well Done #BellLetsTalk

 You would have to live under a rock not to know that today is #BellLetsTalk mental health day. It is wonderful that Bell is putting money where its mouth is.  So far, since 2010 when Bell started Let’s Talk, $86.5 million has been donated to mental health initiatives across Canada. 

A Sweet Night of Candy at Alterna Savings Crackup!

 Photos by Andre Gagne It was a joke John Candy probably would have appreciated, breaking out his signature smile and boisterous laugh: his family fly in from sunny California for a tribute in his name only to face 20 centimeters of snow and the biggest blizzard of the year. While