Faculty of Health experts available to speak on mental health and stigma in youth
TORONTO, January 31, 2018 – In any given year, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), one in five Canadians experiences a mental health or addiction problem. By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, one in two have – or have had – a mental illness. Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.
Overcoming stigma can be one of the primary hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness. #BellLetsTalk is leading the conversation on this front in an effort to reduce stigma and promote awareness and understanding.
The following York U faculty of health experts are available for interviews on mental health and stigma:
Gordon Flett is a professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, and the director of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research. He also holds a Canada Research Chair in Personality and Health.
Professor Gordon Flett, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health
He can speak on the following:
- The impact of anxiety and depression in children, adolescents, and adults over the long term
- Perfectionism and its mental health implications
- Stigma: how students who try to seem perfect tend to stigmatize themselves for seeking help
- The tendency of youth to internalize the stigma and judge oneself according to stereotypic beliefs
- Why the prevalence of distress in schools is underestimated
Myriam Mongrain is a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health. An active clinician and researcher, her research has focused on the role of emotional dependence and self-criticism in the occurrence of major depression.
Professor Myriam Mongrain, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health
She can speak on the following:
- The impact of dependency, self-criticism, depression and self-esteem for young people
- The positive psychology effect of interventions such as the practice of compassion, gratitude and optimism and how they can be used to reduce depression and increase happiness.
- benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression
Media contact: Anjum Nayyar, York University Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543Â anayyar@yorku.ca
York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. York U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.
