Stigma-Free Blog

By: Sanjana Karthik The 3 Principles of Psychology is a concept taught by Sydney Banks, a Canadian broadcaster and producer. This is a concept that is showcased across the globe; supporting more people in experiencing a richer life. The 3 Principles Youth Group is a free opportunity for youth to have meaningful conversations once a […]

According to the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, right now there are approximately 63,000 Canadian children living in permanent care with foster families, extended family, or in group homes. Across the country, 235,000 children and youth have been identified as having experienced or being at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect. These children and youths […]

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you use writing and blogging as a way of coping with mental illness? I began writing in my early teenage years. I never felt like I could voice the emotions I was feeling, so writing was the outlet that I know many to understand as […]

With the goal of supporting the growth and development of vital mental health programming, on May 26th, 2022 the Stigma-Free Society hosted the “Stigma-Free Faces Fundraiser.” The event featured inspiring videos and livestream interviews with diverse community members who have lived experience of mental health challenges and are advocating to stomp out stigma and discrimination […]

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 […]