Stigma-Free Blog

The Stigma-Free Society recently had an eye-opening and important conversation with a thirty-year-old woman who lives with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). She wishes to remain anonymous due to the stigma that is unfortunately often associated with personality disorders. For those of us who are unfamiliar with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), can you tell us what […]

Written by Jill Jaworski Students manage a lot: keeping up with classes, preparing for midterms and exams, making new friends and navigating the transition that happens after high school. The student experience is often stressful, and can feel isolating, as students learn to cope with new expectations and a demanding workload. This is exactly why […]

My name is Andrea Paquette, and I am the Co-Founder and President of the Stigma-Free Society. I am writing today to share a personal tribute to Janet (Jan) Bisset who once was my Executive Assistant and Program Coordinator. I met Jan in 2016 through her son Philip who is a good friend and colleague of mine, […]

Children are thought to be happy-go-lucky little people with no care in the world. They don’t have to worry about working, paying bills, or dealing with grown-up challenges. So, how could they have mental health problems? This thought pattern has caused children with mental health struggles to be overlooked. Lack of information on mental health […]

There was a time in the U.S. when only young men acquired college educations. Throughout the 19th century, it was highly unusual to see female students on most U.S. college campuses. Young women continued to be the minority on campuses well into the first half of the 20th century. Then, the proportion shifted, and women […]

We often think about exercise as a way to keep ourselves physically healthy, and current Canadian guidelines recommend that we get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. It’s a lesser-known fact that exercise is also important for our mental health. Research has demonstrated that exercise can be a means to improve symptoms […]

The holidays aren’t just full of cozy family gatherings and crisp winter walks followed by hot chocolate. The disruption to routine, the increase in social obligations and financial and familial pressure can take its toll, particularly for those with mental health struggles. Given the added challenges of navigating the pandemic, the holidays can seem even […]

Stress and anxiety rates have skyrocketed in the last 18 months due to the pandemic. According to a CBC report, the main concern among educators is not the long gap or loss in academic performance but 90% of the teachers are concerned about the mental health of their students and peers. Anxiety levels in youth […]

Today marks the first annual National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. Previously, this day was acknowledged as Orange Shirt Day, an informal event where residents of Canada were encouraged to wear orange t-shirts to show support and solidarity with residential school survivors. Now nationally recognized, Truth and Reconciliation day is marked by the long […]