Every year in northern France, between the popular tourist venues of the Opal Coast and the cold Flemish beaches at the border with Belgium, thousands of people hide behind dunes and between bushes waiting for the sun to set. When the sky is dark and the air still, they drag on the shore precarious embarkations—commonly […]
Tag: mental health
The Business of Eating Disorders
In 2023, beauty standards reign supreme, seemingly stony and impossible to truly change or avoid. Yet, throughout history, the definition of a “perfect” body has been incredibly transient depending on the time and place in question. From the Paleolithic curves of the Venus of Willendorf to the jutting collarbones and translucent limbs of the nineties […]
Fitness Influencers and the Unseen Market of Teenage Exploitation
Being trapped inside the house for months during the COVID-19 lockdowns gave everyone new options for how to spend their newfound free time: one could turn to binge-watching a new Netflix series, picking up a new hobby, or for many, attempting a new workout regimen. Thanks to social media, during quarantine, it became a trend […]
The Mental Health Challenge of Migration
Since the morning of February 24, when missiles first rained down and troops stormed into Ukraine under the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 7.8 million Ukrainians have fled their besieged homeland. The majority have arrived in neighboring European countries, where they await the assistance of foreign governments. As the European Union (EU) grapples with […]
America’s Epidemic of Antidepressants
Although the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. appears to be in sight, the mental health consequences of the pandemic, as well as rising rates of antidepressant use in the past decade, reveal another public health crisis. Antidepressant use has skyrocketed since 1999, leading it to become one of the most popular types […]
What the Coronavirus Can Teach Us About Gun Violence
Only three years ago, mass shootings seemed to make national headlines nearly once a month. Gun control was at the center of the American political landscape as advocacy groups such as March for Our Lives (MFOL) emerged and sparked debates over gun control on the national level. However, as the coronavirus pandemic has consumed the […]
When a Diagnosis is a Privilege
Marcus was only 16 years old when he realized something was wrong. He’d sit in class unable to pay attention, twiddling his thumbs, shaking his leg, constantly confronting a rapid stream of unwanted, unwelcome thoughts. This feeling of uneasiness was no longer a transitory state, but one that began to dictate his entire life. Once […]
Trippin’ for treatment — why magic mushrooms might be the next breakthrough mental health drug
Psychedelic drugs are often associated with deadbeats, dropouts and eccentric musicians. Using them as medicine seems like something straight out a hippie handbook, but it is a concept that has been gaining traction among medical researchers in recent years. We are currently experiencing a renaissance of psychedelic research, exploring the potential applications of criminalized psychedelic […]
Trigger Warning:…
If you’re a student who has taken a social science course or a social media user who has ever encountered online political dialogue, you’ve probably been warned that the subsequent content might be triggering. While some perceive these “trigger warnings” as a modern fad of pop-psychology, it’s increasingly clear that these protective, avoidance-based notices are […]
When Inclusivity becomes Conditional: Racism, Body Shaming, and Femme Shaming in the Gay Male Community
As a crowd of individuals walk proudly throughout the streets, a gay couple affectionately kiss against a backdrop of rainbow. In this community, love always wins – except when it doesn’t. An image of equality and inclusion generally accompanies the LGBTQ+ community, and rightly so. As a group that has been outcasted and othered for […]