These are taken from the National Institute of Mental Health. Identifying signs of Depression  If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression: Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness  Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling "slowed down" Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping Changes in appetite or unplanned...Read More

In this month’s article, let’s take a greater look at - Who is Debb Pitel?  Why No One Stands Alone? What is the mission of this non-profit? The mission of No One Stands Alone is simply this: Connecting community to care. It started with Debb’s journey and experience, which is outlined in her book, I’m Still Your Mom. In it,she speaks of her difficulties in navigating mental health resources for her son, Tyler, whom she desperately wanted to help.  At that time, her objective was to find those resources that would help her family. Although they were able to access...Read More

By Katie As an introvert, I have always been quiet and shy. I don’t enjoy large crowds, and spending time with others leaves me drained. Small talk does not come easy to me, nor does talking to people in general. I have a small group of friends, but I’m okay with that. Overall, I was a fairly balanced kid in elementary and high school. Then came my first year to college. The anxiety I have dealt with in the past was nothing compared to the anxiety I had felt during my first year in college. Throughout my experience in college,...Read More

February 6, 1998 was a day that changed the lives of Mike and Brenda Neuts forever. Devastation struck their lives when their 10-year-old son, Myles, was found hanging on a coat hook in the washroom at his school during the lunch period. Sadly, Myles never went home again. What followed was a funeral, a police investigation and a coroner’s inquest where Mike and Brenda acted as their own legal counsel.  Their experiences during this time of loss and investigation gave this family greater insights into the lives, behaviours, issues and concerns of children. Out of this tragedy was birthed the...Read More

By Dawn Stilwell This space on the website is usually where I write about someone else’s mental health story, but this month, I decided to share mine with you in the hopes of raising awareness about resources for grief that you may not know are available to you. My youngest sister Jennifer was diagnosed a year and a half ago with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer.  This kind of breast cancer is the worst kind to get; the five-year survival rate is only 1 in five.  Jen went through months of chemo, a radical mastectomy and then months of radiation...Read More