Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we examine how media coverage shapes public perceptions of mental illness; especially schizophrenia. Featuring insights from journalism professor and CBC journalist Kathryn Gretsinger, the conversation explores the ethical responsibilities of reporting on complex and sensitive issues. From breaking news to long-form storytelling, we look a...

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore the emerging intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health. Through the lived experience of Allan Brooks, we examine how interactions with AI can escalate into something far more serious: reinforcing delusional thinking and contributing to psychological crisis. This episode raises important questions about safety, re...

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore how art therapy can help people living with serious mental illnesses and their family/caretakers. Through conversations with art therapist Nicole Parekh and artist Sandra Yuen, we examine how creative expression can offer a powerful, non-verbal way to process experiences, build connection, and support recovery. While art isn&rsq...

Look Again is excited to present this candid conversation from our friends at Brain Stories, a documentary series that captures stories of those living with a mental illness, and the people who support them. In this episode, we hear from Xavier, who was a senior in college when he got a panicked call from his brother. This was his closest brother, his older brother whom he deeply admired, and he w...

What happens when someone living with a serious mental illness truly believes they are not ill?   In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore anosognosia, a neurological symptom that affects a person’s ability to recognize their own illness. Host Faydra Aldridge introduces conversations with clinical psychologist Dr. Xavier Amador, author of I’m Not Sick,...

When someone is admitted to hospital for a mental health crisis, families are often told: “We can’t share patient information.” But is privacy legislation really the barrier it’s made out to be? In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore the tension between confidentiality and family involvement in care, and why culture, not the law, may be keepin...

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore recovery beyond medical definitions and diagnoses. Host Faydra Aldridge introduces a new era of the podcast which now available in both audio and video by bringing listeners face-to-face with two powerful stories. Matthew shares his decades-long journey to remission, the role medication and reflective self-work have played in hi...

In this special introduction, host Faydra Aldridge shares what’s new in Season 6 of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined. This season brings a new magazine-style format, more voices from across the mental health community, and for the first time: video episodes! Alongside firsthand stories and expert perspectives, the show will explore topics including recovery, caregiving, media represent...

In Season 6 of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, host Faydra Aldridge goes beyond the stereotypes, the headlines, and the stigma surrounding serious mental illness. This season explores a host of topics that include what recovery really means, the realities of caregiving, pressures within the mental health system, the role media plays in the portrayal of serious mental illness, and how artif...

In the final episode of our World Schizophrenia Day series, we revisit a deeply personal episode of Look Again. Host Faydra Aldridge shares her family’s journey with Schizophrenia. Before her sister, Carissa Lynn, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Faydra thought it was something that happened to others. In this powerful episode, Faydra is joined by her mother, Linda, and they revisit the cha...

In this third episode of our World Schizophrenia Day series, we revisit eye-opening discussion about how our misconceptions of schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses can fuel the misunderstanding and stigma that people living with psychosis face. While there's no way to predict whether a person with a mental illness will become violent, depictions in media, TV, and movies sometimes perpet...

In this second episode of our World Schizophrenia Day series, we revisit a controversial debate. Anti-psychotics like Abilify, Risperdal, and Clozapine are often used to help manage a person's symptoms of schizophrenia, including paranoia, delusions and hallucinations. However, there’s a movement that wants to shift mainstream thinking away from using medication to manage the symptoms of a s...

Today is World Schizophrenia Day. Look Again is revisiting four of our most popular episodes. The first one in this revisited series is a conversation with former NHL goalie Corey Hirsch. At 21, Corey Hirsch was living the dream: goalie for the silver-medal-winning Team Canada at the Olympics and Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers. So, why was he contemplating suicide? In this unfiltered convers...

Navigating post-secondary education is challenging, but for students living with psychosis, it can be an uphill battle. In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, host Faydra Aldridge speaks with Anne Liao, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder during their university years. Anne shares their journey of resilience which started roughly 10-years ago at UBC, the barriers th...

SPECIAL FEATURE. This week, Look Again is excited to present this candid conversation from PSYCHEDUP, a new show that focuses on one mental illness each episode. In the premiere episode, host Dr. Diane McIntosh sits down with Olympic legend Silken Laumann, who captured the hearts of Canadians with her incredible resilience, rowing to a bronze medal in single sculls despite a devastating injury. Bu...

In this deeply personal episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, author of Mad Sisters, Susan Grundy, shares the powerful story of her sister's battle with schizophrenia. As Susan recounts her experience growing up alongside her sister, she reflects on the complex dynamics of caregiving, sibling relationships, and the profound impact of mental illness on families. With raw honesty, Susan...

This is a re-release of the season four premiere of Look Again, “Beyond the Selfies: Social media's influence on mental illness stigma.” Kody Green is a motivational speaker, content creator, and author who was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Schizophrenia at 28 years old. In this episode, Kody talks with Faydra about becoming a 'Mental Illness Social Media Influencer.’ The conve...

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined, host Faydra Aldridge dives into the fascinating connection between gut health and serious mental illness. Joined by Dr. Amedeo Minichino, a clinical academic psychiatrist at the University of Oxford, they explore how the trillions of bacteria in our gut, known as the microbiome, could influence brain function and play a key role in conditi...

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined, host Faydra Aldridge speaks with Dr. André McDonald, an epidemiologist and lead author of a groundbreaking study on cannabis use and psychotic disorders. They explore the alarming connection between cannabis use in teens and the risk of developing psychosis, particularly as THC potency has dramatically increased. Dr. McDonald breaks...

In this emotional episode, host Faydra Aldridge speaks with Stephen and his parents about Stephen’s experience with childhood-onset schizophrenia. Diagnosed at age 12, Stephen recounts the onset of symptoms, from debilitating headaches to delusions and memory lapses, and his eventual hospitalization. His parents share their perspectives on watching their son fall into psychosis, the difficulties i...

Misdiagnosing epilepsy as schizophrenia can lead to devastating consequences, with patients receiving ineffective treatments for years. In this episode, Dr. Gibson Anugwom, resident psychiatrist from the Baylor College of Medicine, discusses the dangers of over-reliance on symptom-based diagnoses without thorough evaluations. We explore the need for better diagnostic tools, awareness in medical ed...

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, host Faydra Aldridge dives into the complex world of treatment-resistant schizophrenia—a condition where standard antipsychotic medications fail to alleviate symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. Joined by psychiatrist Dr. Diane McIntosh, they discuss why over 30% of those diagnosed with schizophrenia don't respond to typical treatme...

In Season 5 of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, host Faydra Aldridge is back to challenge what many of us think about serious mental illness. This season, she's discussing the potential links between diet, gut health, and mental illness, misdiagnoses and some new treatments being explored. She’ll explore stories of living with mental illness—from navigating relationships to managing student...

In this episode, we delve into the mental illness journey of former NHL goalie, Corey Hirsch. Renowned for his stellar career with the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, Corey's life story extends beyond the ice, unveiling a silent battle with mental illness. From the pinnacle of professional hockey to the darkest corners of despair, Corey shares the struggles he faced, including contemplatio...

In this episode, we address the troubling reality of suicide rates among individuals grappling with schizophrenia. Studies reveal a staggering statistic, up to 15% of those with schizophrenia tragically take their own lives. This alarming figure, particularly affecting young people in the early stages of their illness, underscores the urgency of our conversation. Join us as we delve into this topi...