Mental Health Professionals
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What is Abuse and Domestic Violence?
Abuse is behaviour used to intimidate, isolate, dominate or control another person. It may be a pattern of behaviour or it may be a single incident. Abusive behaviour might involve acts or words or even neglect.
Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial:
Physical abuse is when someone hurts you physically in any way. It includes hitting, kicking, slapping, pinching, cutting, stabbing, and shooting. All of these examples are assault, which is a crime in Canada and the United States.
Sexual touching or sexual activity is abuse if you do not consent or if ...
Does any of this sound like you?
Traffic is terrible today! It's making me very IRRITATED.
My tax return is so complicated. It's making me very FRUSTRATED.
I can't believe my mother would say something like that
I'm really ANNOYED that my neighbour's garbage keeps getting strewn all over the alley!
That driver just cut me off. I'm really IRATE about it!
I'm so ANGRY!
Read on to find out if you have a problem with managing your anger and what to do about it.
Anger and Positive Change
ANGER is an emotion that tells us someone or something has interfered with our goals, ...
Do I Have an Anxiety Disorder?
Do you find that that many of the following apply to you...
I am often startled by the smallest thing
I worry that something terrible will happen to me or others
I am easily irritable
I get sudden fears of dying or doing something out of control
I often worry that something has not been done correctly even though I know I completed the task properly
I am extremely worried about disease (e.g. germs, infections, dirt, dust, contaminates, cleanliness)
I need constant reassurance
I often find myself doing things repeatedly (e.g. hand washing, showering, tooth ...
Does Your Child Have..
Does your child have any of the following:
Gets fearful or worried about leaving the home, e.g. school or activities?
Require a lot of reassurance to calm down?
Fears that are so extreme, that it gets in the way of life?
Introduction
Dylan is afraid of the dark. Tricia hates to eat in front of other people. Eric becomes sick to his stomach and throws up if he has to speak aloud in class.
Life is stressful. It is normal to have fears and worries. Being worried about things can help us prepare for potential dangers. E.g. being worried about failing a test ...
Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD) in Children and Youth: Information for Parents and Caregivers
What is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Everyone has trouble paying attention from time to time, especially during activities that are boring or not enjoyable. But for children and youth with ADHD/ADD, the problems with paying attention and getting distracted are so severe that youth can have problems with school, work and relationships.
There are 3 main types of ADHD:
1. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
This is the most common type, causing troubles with attention and hyperactivity. Typical symptoms of ADHD:
Attention ...
Inattentive Ivan...
Ivan is a 40-ish-year-old, who despite being smart and funny, struggles with work and relationships. When younger, despite teachers saying that "Ivan has great potential," he found school painfully boring and was relieved when he finally completed high school. He thought things would get easier once he finished school, but as an adult, he faces other challenges:
With work, it's hard to focus on the boring parts of his job. He forgets deadlines, has trouble getting tasks done. As a result, he has had troubles staying in the same field and has been through several jobs while he sees his ...
"Thomas likes trains..."
Thomas is a 10-year-old boy who has always been really interested in trains. He knows so much about trains that he can go on and on with his vast, encyclopedic knowledge. If you wanted to know the train schedule at the local train station, he could tell you. Schoolwork has never been a concern and he has always done well in school with little effort.
Unfortunately, when it comes to anything involving people, he has a lot more difficulties. He just can't seem to relate to others, and has no friends. He doesn't seem to get social cues. He'll talk endlessly about trains without realizing that others are ...
Introduction
Ever since his mid 20's, a normally shy man gets high energy periods lasting up to several days where he doesn't need to sleep, and where he impulsively goes on spending sprees that put him into severe debt. These high periods are often followed by periods of severe low mood and depression, even to the point where he has thoughts of suicide. What's going on here? Is it normal mood swings, or could it be something else?
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Everyone gets mood swings whereby sometimes our mood and energy is up, and where sometimes our mood and energy is down. But if you have mood swings so severe that it ...
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
All of us have changes and swings in our mood which are normal. There are times when our mood is up, and we have more energy and excitement about things. There are other times when our moods are down, and we have less energy.
However, people with bipolar disorder have periods of extreme mood change that cause serious problems in their lives.
In the classic form of bipolar, people have episodes of depression and of mania, when their mood, energy, thinking and behaviour gets stuck for a period of time at a very low or a very high level. Hence the term, "bipolar", ...
Introduction
J. is a 15-yo teen who believes his hair is "all wrong" despite the beliefs of his friends and family who see none of these 'defects'. But now it's to the point where he refuses to go to school unless he combs his hair for hours.
M. is a 45-yo woman. Her ability to focus on details makes her a gifted and accomplished musician and music teacher. Unfortunately, she has been increasingly obsessed with signs of ageing which she thinks make her nose now appear much bigger. Despite the reassurance of family members, she is so concerned about her appearance that she has been reducing her social contacts to a greater and ...
What is Bullying?
Bullying is a form of aggression in which one individual is exposed to deliberately harmful actions by a more aggressive person. Bullying can be physical (e.g., hitting, pushing, tripping), verbal (e.g., name-calling, insults, put-downs), social (e.g., social isolation, rumours) or cyber (e.g., threats or insults spread through the internet or cell phone).
It is also possible for the same child to be both a bully and a victim. There are also "provocative victims" (a term coined by Olweus, 2001) who display negative behaviours that annoy bullies and lead them to take action.
School bullies ...
Sally's Story
"I was just going out for a walk..."
Sally is a 75-yo widow, active in her community, with an outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. She lives alone, but her daughter lives in town, and checks in on her occasionally. Over the last few months however, she has become noticeably more forgetful, to the where she has gone for walks while leaving the stove on. Last week, she went out for her usual morning walk, but got lost. Luckily, one of the neighbours that was driving by happened to recognize her, and brought her home.
Is this normal aging? Or is it something else?
What is ...
What is Depression?
Everyone has times when they feel the ‘blues' or when they get sad from time to time. Depression, on the other hand, is a sadness so severe that it can cause:
Difficulties functioning at home, work or school
Changes in sleep, energy, appetite and concentration,
Feelings such as sadness, anxiety, irritability or anger,
Low self-esteem or feelings of hopelessness. When extremely severe, people who are depressed may have thoughts of hurting themselves.
How Common is Depression?
Depression is a common condition that can affect anyone at any age. In any given year, it is estimated that it ...
What is Depression?
It is normal for children and youth to feel sad from time to time. But this sadness doesn’t stop them from going on with their everyday activities. And it goes away on its own. Depression, on the other hand, is a sadness so severe that it interferes with everyday life.
Typical symptoms of depression (aka clinical depression, or major depressive disorder) are:
Feeling sad, worried, irritable or angry.
Lack of enjoyment in life, or troubles enjoying anything
Feeling hopeless and worthless, Troubles coping with everyday activities at home, school, or work
Problems ...
Max's Story
Max has always been clumsy. But it seems that as he gets older, it's not something he is growing out of, and starting to really cause noticeable problems. He is clumsy and spills things at home all the time, leading family members to get upset at him. He is always walking or falling on something leading to frequent bumps and bruises. At school, he struggles to learn how to write. He struggles with gym class, and at recess, wishes he could play with the other kids but he is so clumsy that no one wants to play with him.
Any of the Following?
Does your child seem excessively clumsy, to the point that it causes problems at home, school or ...
Mary's Story
Mary is 30-years old. She lives on her own, and does not have any contact with her family. She has no memory of her childhood at all. She is a gentle person, and works in an office. Sometimes she meets people who say that they know her, however she has no recollection of having met them. What is going on with Mary?
Could I have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?
Do you notice any of the following?
A feeling that your sense of self has two or more distinct parts, and that each of those parts has its own behaviours, moods, thoughts, memories, and way of understanding the world
That sometimes you don’t ...
Case: "We need med refills but don't have a family doctor!"
J. is a parent with a 10-yo child who takes prescription medications. Unfortunately, their family doctor unexpectedly retired and closed down the practice. Now they need medication refills, and they simply don’t know what to do.
Introduction
It is always best to have a regular primary care provider, that one can see for health issues and renew medications if necessary. Unfortunately, with the current healthcare shortages, sometimes people can find themselves “orphaned” or without a primary care provider. Fortunately, there are some strategies that may be helpful until ...
Introduction
Your child was not born knowing how to control feelings or calm down and needs to learn this from you. You are your child’s first and most important teacher. A loving relationship with your child is the best way you can help them learn to deal with difficult feelings.
Unpleasant Feelings that Your Child May Have
Anger
Anger is a common feeling, and temper tantrums are normal in young children. They are your child’s way of letting you know that they feel angry, upset or frustrated. Try to find out what is bothering your child and respond differently depending on what is wrong.
If your child is ...
J's Story
J. is a twenty-something who struggles with a fear of vomiting. She remembers the day it started in Gr. 9. She had been sick with the flu and ended up throwing up in class. Since then, her fears of vomiting have been getting gradually worse. She is able to go to her work but other than that, she is not able to leave home. She wishes so badly that she could just go out like others…
What is the Fear of Vomiting (Emetophobia)?
It is normal to dislike the thought of vomiting and in fact, having just enough fear of vomiting can be helpful.
It encourages one to 1) stay away from people who may be sick, and 2) take measures to avoid ...
What are Food Cravings?
Human beings need to eat in order to live, and as a result, our body signals through cravings and urges that we need to eat. For most of human history, humans spent most of their days moving outside, and would expend large amounts of energy in hunting and gathering. Our traditional diet was high in natural grains, vegetables, fruits and lower amounts of meat.
Food cravings helped hunter gatherers survive:
Cravings for sweet foods were a signal that a ripe fruit was ready to be eaten; Cravings for salty foods helped ensure we had enough salt in our diet; for most of human history, salt was extremely hard to find and ...
Introduction
It seems like life is getting more and more stressful all the time, with demands for work, school, family and home responsibilities. As a result, we often cut back on the very things that are the most important, like getting enough sleep…
Getting enough sleep is essential. Studies show that getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining proper health. Furthermore, lack of sleep can cause numerous health and related problems. It is a risk factor for mental health problems such as depression, and can also contribute to cardiovascular and other conditions. Being sleep deprived also significantly increases your risk ...
Are my children at risk of lead exposure?
Are your children:
Living in or regularly visiting a house or day care center built before 1950?
Living in or regularly visiting a house built before 1978 with peeling or chipping paint or recent (within the last 6 months), ongoing or planned renovation?
Living with or regularly visiting a sibling, housemate or playmate with lead poisoning?
Living with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead?
Living near an active lead smelter, battery recycling plant, or other industry likely to release lead?
Recent refugee, immigrant, or child adopted from outside ...
Lynn’s story
Lynn is a typical 10 year old who likes sports and hanging out with her friends. She is an average student, getting B’s in all subjects, except for math… Math has always been tough for her compared to other subjects. But this year, she’s been failing all her math classes. Even when she asks her teacher for help, she still doesn’t understand. Her dad thinks, ‘Well, I wasn’t good at math either, so that’s why she’s failing’. Her mom thinks that Lynn is being lazy and she should just ‘work harder’. Is Lynn’s trouble with math because she is lazy or because ...
What is Mental Health?
Mental health (like our physical health) is a resource for living. It allows us to learn, work, play and find enjoyment in life. It helps us through tough times.
From a child or teen’s point of view, mental health means things such as…
I feel like I have things to live forI feel hopeful and good about the futureI like myselfI’m satisfied, content or happy with lifeI feel that people care about meI feel in control of my life
What is Mental Illness?
People have mental health problems or mental illnesses when problems with thoughts, feelings or behaviours get in the way of functioning at home, school or ...
J’s Story, Part 1
J. is a young adult who wants to get the COVID vaccine, because she wants to protect her elderly parents. And she needs to be vaccinated to keep her job working with medically ill people. But she has hated needles all her long and she just doesn't know what to do...
Introduction
On one hand, getting needles for immunizations, bloodwork or injections is part of the miracle of modern medicine, which helps people live healthier and longer than in the past. This includes getting needles for the COVID vaccine, which is necessary for herd immunity to overcome the COVID pandemic.
On the other hand, it is understandable that ...
Introduction
Most people have had times when certain thoughts or images get stuck in our head. Like getting a certain song stuck in your head; worrying that we forgot to turn off the stove at home.
But when such thoughts get so extreme that it gets in the way of daily life, it may be the sign of obsessive compulsive disorder...
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition where people have troubles with obsessions and/or compulsions:
Obsessions are distressing thoughts or images that won't go away, for example, worries about being dirty or ...
"He just can't stop washing..."
Tyrone is a 10-year old who enjoys hanging out with his friends and family, and is a great soccer player.
Over the past few months however, he's been much more concerned about his cleanliness. In the beginning, his parents thought it was great, because he began showering more often. But now he needs to shower several times a day and will actually get upset and angry if he can't have his shower.
In the past few weeks, he's become extremely concerned about germs to the point where he won't even touch door handles. And if he does, he has to wash his hands, and so now it's to the ...
Penny’s Story, Part 1
Penny has always been a bit of a worrier, but now she’s started having periods “out of the blue” where she feels suddenly anxious, along with shortness of breath, feeling sweaty. The periods are so severe, that it feels like she’s having a heart attack. Worried that she might be having a heart attack, she goes to the Emergency Department at her local hospital. Good news, she finds out it's not a panic attack. But the bad news is that she keeps on having these attacks, and just doesn’t know what to do. What advice would you give Penny?
What are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are periods of intense fear ...
Introduction
When a person has trouble with their feelings, behaviours, learning or function, it may be helpful to see a psychologist for an assessment. Psychologists can do different types of assessments, such a psychological assessment, psychoeducational assessment, and neuropsychological assessment.
Psychological Assessment
When might this be helpful?
Are there troubles with feelings (e.g. depression, anxiety, anger)?
Are there troubles with behaviours (e.g. making unhealthy choices)?
Are there troubles coping with stresses?
What is it?
A psychological assessment is where one meets with a ...
What Is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a serious medical condition in which a person has trouble telling the difference between what is real and what is not real, typically with symptoms such as delusions and/or hallucinations:
Delusions:
Delusions are fixed, false beliefs which do not have a basis in reality. Types of delusions include Paranoid delusions, where a person may become suspicious of others and worried about being harmed by others. It may include fears of being spied on or being followed. Bizarre delusions are delusions that are strange and completely impossible, e.g. believing that one is controlled by ...
Introduction
In our lives, we have many relationships, and all of these make a difference to our mental health. When our relationships go well, it helps our mental health. When we have problems with our relationships, it can cause stress and problems for our mental health.
Perhaps the most important relationship in our lives is our romantic relationship, i.e. the one that we have with our spouse, partner, husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend...
The following advice about our primary romantic relationship comes from the Gottman Institute, which is dedicated to the study of marital relationships -- what makes them, ...
Introduction
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that causes changes in a person's thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviours. It can make someone hear or see things that others cannot see. It can make someone feel unsafe, afraid, and lead to avoiding other people, and loss of function. Without proper treatment, it can cause serious problems with school, work and relationships. Fortunately, help is available for those with schizophrenia. In addition, there are many things that family and friends can do to support their loved ones with schizophrenia.
Do I Have Schizophrenia?
The following is a list of some symptoms of ...
“She won't speak to anyone…”
Fatima is a 7 year old girl who plays soccer with her brothers and talks excitedly about her favorite World Cup team. Yet, at recess time, she stands alone watching the other kids play soccer and doesn’t speak when her classmates ask her if she wants to play. And despite the school year being half over, she has not spoken a single word in her classroom.
Fatima's parents have tried everything to get her to talk. They've tried talking to her about her feelings, and asking if she's been bullied. They've tried positive consequences such as rewards for being able to speak. They've tried punishing her for not ...
Mary's Story
Mary is a 14-yo teenager who has always been somewhat quiet and shy, so her mother was surprised when she found out that Mary started dating a boy this school year. But lately, Mary's been a lot moodier than usual. And just the other day, Mary's mother caught a glimpse of Mary's forearms and saw that they had scratches and cuts all over them. Like most parents would feel in such a situation, Mary's mother felt suddenly scared and confused, and thought to herself "This is terrible! I've no idea how to deal with this! What am I supposed to do!"
What is Self-Harm?
Self-harm is the deliberate attempt to harm oneself and in most ...
Introduction
A boy is so sensitive to being touched that he can't stand being hugged or touched, his parents even need to cut tags off his clothing. A girl is so sensitive to noise that when it gets loud, she starts to cry or have tantrums. Another girl needs to move constantly to the point where teachers and other students find her constant moving disruptive. What's up with these children? Are they simply being oppositional or difficult children? Is it bad parenting? Or could it be something else...
Sensory Processing Problems
Sensory processing problems is a complex condition where a person misinterprets information from the ...
What To Do About Weight Gain?
Let your doctor know so that you can talk about various strategies such as the following:
Changes to your diet.
Consider talking with a registered dietician (RD) about changes that you can do to your diet in order to help with your weight. There may be one that works at your doctor’s clinic or hospital. Otherwise, there are registered dieticians that you can pay privately to see for a consultation session. In general, people need to reduce 500–1,000 kcal/daily from their current diet, as well as make sure that less than 30% of calories come from dietary fat.
Consider intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting ...
Polly's Story: "I just can't stop picking my skin!"
Polly is a thirty-something who can't stop picking her skin. She’s under a lot of stress at home and work. When watching TV in the evenings, she picks on her face and forearms to the point of bleeding. Summers are stressful because she worries about others seeing the scabs and scars on her arms and legs. She'd like to get help with it, but she's so embarrassed that it's hard to talk to anyone.
Introduction
Many people pick at their skin from time to time. People may pick at their acne, moles, freckles, sores, and scabs. They may even pick at things in their skin ...
What is the Secret to Happiness and Mental Wellness?
Everyone wants to be happy, i.e. have mental wellness, the state of well-being where we feel contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure or joy. Throughout history, people have struggled to find the secret to happiness.
Mental wellness can be defined as the “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, and is able to make a contribution to her or his own community” (Health Canada, 2014).
But simply living a life of pleasure is not enough to lead to a life of happiness. A ...
Introduction
It's the adult who has never dated because he's too shy to talk to members of the opposite sex. It's the quiet employee who is under-appreciated by his co-workers and underpaid by his company. It's that great, funny person that you know, but who suffers from loneliness because s/he is too shy unless around close friends and relatives...
Do I have Social Anxiety Disorder?
Do you have any of the following?
Significant and persistent fears of social or performance situations in which embarrassment, rejection, or scrutiny are possible.You either avoid such situations, or endure them with distress (e.g. having symptoms of anxiety)The ...
Introduction
It's the student who struggles at school because she's too afraid to ask questions in class. It's the teenager who suffers from loneliness from not having any friends because he's too shy to talk to anyone in school. It's shyness so severe that it gets in the way of life...
Shyness runs along a spectrum. It is normal for everyone to be shy at certain times. It is appropriate to be more shy in some situations than in others. Some cultures value shyness more than others, especially for children. Social anxiety disorder is more than just normal shyness - it is shyness so severe that it gets in the way of enjoying ...
(Original title "Learn About... Stress", from the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division)
Introduction
You have a major deadline coming up tomorrow and you still have a ton of work to do. Your child’s principal called; your child is being disruptive…again. You have 12 people coming over for dinner this weekend and you still have no idea what you’re going to make. On top of everything else, your mother isn’t feeling well but refuses to go to the doctor. Your muscles are feeling tense, you find yourself nervously tapping your feet as you sit at your desk. Your thoughts keep racing around in your ...
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania (pronounced as "trick-o-till-o-mania", commonly called "trich" or also known simply as ‘hair pulling') is a condition where a person has repeated, uncontrollable urges to pull out hair from their scalp, eyelashes, nose hair, ear hair, eyebrows or other body hair. The term trichotillomania comes from the Greek words trich (for hair), tillo (pulling) and mania (an impulse).
On one hand, it is normal for human beings have grooming behaviours for body function and hygiene, such as pulling out unwanted hair.
On the other hand, pulling out excessive hairs can lead to noticeable bald ...
1. Keep in Touch With Your Mental Health Service Provider
Ask to be put on a cancellation list (if your provider has one). This gives you the possibility of being seen more quickly. If another family cancels an appointment, your service provider calls you to see if your child or teen can make the appointment time. If not, you can wait for the next availabale appointment. Make sure your provider has up to date contact information for you, including a number where you can be reached during the day.
Let your mental health service provider (or family doctor) know if your child or teen is getting worse. Your child’s place ...
Introduction
"When my sister got sick she was acting really bizarre and the police had to take her to emergency. It was really scary. My friends didn't understand at first that it was just because her brain was sick, but they do now."
Why is my brother or sister acting this way?
Psychosis is an illness of the brain. It is caused in part by genetic (inherited) brain problems plus stress or street drugs like marijuana and crystal meth. When the brain gets ill, it is hard for the person to know what is wrong. They may make up and believe other explanations for why they feel so weird, and they may act strangely. It will be really hard for ...