University won’t require diagnosis before accommodating disabilities, after two-year fight involving the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Student says her peers ‘across Canada’ should not have to disclose their diagnoses.

Navi Dhanota knew she needed some help to score top grades in university but this time, she wasn’t prepared to return to a psychiatrist’s chair to get it. She didn’t think any student should have to disclose their private mental-health diagnosis for the privilege of academic accommodations like getting extra time to hand in an assignment or test. Read the rest of this article at the Toronto Star…

CBC airs in-depth documentary about the search for effective treatments

After such a devastating trip to rock bottom, the thought of drinking again was beyond my comprehension. Mike Pond, “five and-a-half-years sober,” became an innate part of my identity, my self-worth. At speaking events “five and-a-half-years sober” brought resounding applause. Well, hold your applause, because I drank again.
Read the rest of this article at the Vancouver Sun…

Why, despite irrefutable evidence of their biochemical cause, are mental illnesses so frequently misunderstood?

“And why can’t you work full-time? You don’t look disabled to me. Aren’t people like you scamming welfare and disability?” If I had a dollar for every time I encountered the inherent misunderstanding in such a comment, the surplus funds could potentially solve the tragedies engendered by such thinking. Read the rest of this article at The Province…

Jan. 7, 2016 — Nanaimo RCMP and Island Health are collaborating following reports of an increase in non-fatal overdoses in Nanaimo. The Greater Victoria area had seen a significant increase in overdoses and cases under coroner investigation starting Dec 20th and the desire is to prevent more tragedies from occurring. [image: istockphoto]

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