Mental Health Matters: The controversy of sex bias in diagnoses
By contributor Zoe Lauckner In the Nav’s Valentine’s Day issue, the Mental Health Matters column was about sex bias (that is, biological/natal sex) in regards to how females are diagnosed with mental illnesses and how stereotypes and labels can affect the latter. The same can be said for men, as sex differences exist in diagnoses … Continued
Mental Health Matters: The S word
By contributor Zoe Lauckner Trigger warning. As you may be able to tell by the title of this article, I’m going to be discussing the S word—suicide—in all of its misconceptions and statistical truths. That being said, do what you gotta do—put this paper down and walk away, take a deep breath, and get grounded, or batten … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Culture-specific mental disorders
By contributor Zoe Lauckner Have you ever been out at sea alone for too long, seal hunting, and experienced intense panic-like symptoms and fear of drowning? Ever felt like your reproductive organs are disappearing inside your own body? In western society, we would likely categorize these behaviours to fit using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Female sex bias and mental illness
This is the latest in a contributor column by Zoe Lauckner. Check back next issue for the latest in mental health. We’ve all seen it, whether on television or in the real world, where a woman is depicted as the stereotypical crazy girlfriend or the psycho ex-girlfriend. Other likely renditions might include words such as neurotic, … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Q and A with Island Health on Fentanyl
This is the latest in a contributor column by Zoe Lauckner. Check back next issue for the latest in mental health issues. On January 8, students at VIU received an email from the school advising them of a deadly overdose alert. The lethal drug, fentanyl, which is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Self-care reminder
By contributor Zoe Lauckner The holidays have ended and it’s back to school for the spring semester. For some, this season is relaxing and uplifting, but for others, Christmas is a time of financial hardship and straining family dynamic—or is it just me? Regardless of the quality of your holiday season, the beginning of term is … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Getting Involved
This is the latest in a contributor column by Zoe Lauckner. Check back next issue for the latest in Mental Health issues. Last issue’s column talked about stigma—what it is, why it happens, and how it affects those who are experiencing mental health issues. The thing is, we can talk all we want about stigma and why it is damaging to … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Finding the right counsellor
This is the fourth in a contributor column by Zoe Lauckner. Check back next issue for the latest in mental health issues. Seeking counselling services is a big deal—it takes strength, determination, and a willingness to be vulnerable and open about your life. It means you’re experiencing some struggle that you recognize you need support for. … Continued
Mental Health Matters: Accessing Services—Crisis Counselling
This is the third in a contributor column by Zoe Lauckner. Check back next issue for the latest in Mental Health issues. Last issue’s Mental Health Matters column touched on the topic of self-care—an intentional, self-nurturing practice aimed at taking care of one’s own psychosocial needs. Self-care takes insight and awareness of self—skills that are not … Continued