While projects like Well Week are important for McGill staff and students to increase their awareness of mental health issues, we need to remember that the impact of mental illness is not temporary. Mental illness deserves the kind of attention it receives during Well Week, all year. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 450 million people struggle with mental illness worldwide with 6.7 million in Canada, making it the leading cause of disability. This is particularly relevant to the college population, given that people aged between 15 and 24 are the most likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorder.  People of colour, women, queer and trans people, and other often marginalized groups also experience higher rates of mental illness. While mental illness is not commonly thought of as a global health crisis, Canada has reached a point where it can no longer ignore the increasing number of people affected by mental illness and seeking help. Furthermore, we cannot ignore the need for better care and treatment. Currently, one in three Canadians say that they had a mental health need in the past year  and stated that their needs were not fully met. 

McGill University needs to respond to mental health issues the same way that other health crises that affect physical health (such as cancer or diabetes) are tackled: with immediate urgency and care.

Although it is important to consider mental illness a global health crisis to increase urgency and awareness, it is also crucial to remember that there is not necessarily a “cure” or “end.” Many who suffer from mental illness experience lifelong symptoms. Treatment should not aim to eradicate mental illness, but rather make the illness manageable. Most people afflicted are reluctant to seek help due to stigma or feelings of isolation. Institutional barriers make accessing care even more difficult.  At McGill, students who do recognize a need for treatment often have difficulty accessing it  through McGill Counseling and Psychiatric Services. There is a severe lack of recognition of the growing demand for adequate care from students, as only 23 staff members service a student body of over 40,000. Even if only 10 per cent of the student population sought counseling (which is a conservative estimate, considering 18 per cent of the Canadian population suffers from mental health issues), 23 clinicians would need to provide services to about 171 students each. If every student only accessed clinic hours for one hour per month, each clinician would be working at least 44 hours per week. Although there has been a 43 per cent increase in counseling staff since 2014, there are clearly still inadequate services. McGill University needs to respond to mental health issues the same way that other health crises that affect physical health (such as cancer or diabetes) are tackled – with immediate urgency and care. It has been announced that a $14 million student Wellness Hub partly funded by the Rossy Foundation, will open in late April. The Rossy Hub, though a step forward, does not seem to focus on providing more personalized care.  McGill needs to do better.  

When asking McGill students whether they thought of mental illness as a global crisis, many  thought that considering it one could help in improving treatment. Furthermore, it could call attention to the issues that a large number of people face, especially as students. Egan, a first-year history student, said, “It seems people are a bit more open about being mentally [ill], and a lot of my friends have had depression; I wouldn’t be surprised if it was like this everywhere.” 

Unless students are in a position to receive care on a two-week to monthly basis, those who require more specialized attention are neglected.

Many have unfortunately had difficult experiences dealing with McGill Counseling and Psychiatric Services, due to a lack of availability and attention to specific needs. Meghan, a first year English literature student, stated, “I went in and explained that I was not going to do anything, but that I was suicidal and wanted to see someone. There was no sympathy, no asking why, just immediately suggesting that I be admitted to a hospital.” She explained further, “they gave me a sheet of private therapists and said their waiting list was long and that private counseling was a faster option.” The fact that McGill is ill-equipped to deal with individuals who are in need of weekly care but cannot afford to pay for private facilities (which often charge at least $100 per session), begs the question of whether the services offered are truly “accessible.” Ultimately, it seems that they are not. Unless students are in a position to receive care on a two-week to  monthly basis, those who require more specialized attention are neglected. When speaking of the appointment she received, Meghan said, “[It] lasted 15 minutes.” Kelsey, a former education student in secondary English, said, “when I was at McGill and tried to receive mental health services, I felt as though the resources were severely lacking, especially considering the size of the student body. It felt very bureaucratic, not personal whatsoever.” 

There has also been criticism of the way in which Student Services has attempted to offer students other forms of care. While students can request to meet with a French-speaking counsellor or a member of the PRIDE team (a team of LGBTQ-affirming clinicians), there are limits to how much care is tailored to students needs. “[The University] is constantly putting money and efforts into things like therapy puppies which, while cute, do nothing about the fact that they don’t have nearly enough counselors or any eating disorder program,” said Meghan. Indeed, the previous eating disorder program offered by the university has had its funding cut, and it is currently under review. Ignoring this issue as a global crisis leads administrators to identify depression or anxiety in students as simply a result of midterms or finals season. Kelsey pointed out that “mental health is seen as something that only flares up when students are at the end of the term, and not as chronic illnesses that are intensified by the lack of resources at the school and the role academia plays in general ways contributing to high stress levels, anxiety, depression, et cetera.”

A lot of blame for the inadequacy of the counselling services has been attributed to former Deputy Provost for Student Life and Learning, Ollivier Dyens. A 2017 editorial written by the Daily highlighted the impact of Dyens’ leadership, stating, “between 2013 and 2016, McGill saw a 35 per cent increase in students seeking mental health services. However, over $2.5 million has been cut from Student Services’ overhead finances in the past seven years.” Dyens’ mandate ended, and Engineering professor Fabrice Labeau began a one year appointment on June 18, 2018. As of yet, Labeau does not seem to have made any significant changes to improve the lives of the students struggling with mental health issues. 

“[The University] is constantly putting money and efforts into things like therapy puppies which, while cute, do nothing to about the fact that they don’t have nearly enough counsellors or any eating disorder program”

As  Well Week comes to a close, McGill University needs to do better for its students while remembering that awareness and action are important all year.  These need to be sustained for our student body’s collective mental health to improve and thrive. Providing proper services and care to students has never been more important. Genuinely engaging with individuals to understand their unique needs based on their experiences is an important consultation step for the administration to take. Students have called on McGill to do better, and to set an example for what proper mental health care looks like.

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The main issue that listeners took with Strumia’s claims  was that most of his statements were blatantly false. Women in physics often experience strong cultural bias and gender-based discrimination. However, the harmful impact of Strumia’s presentation isn’t isolated to this one incident. To a lot of women in the field, the problem of workplace bias is a reality of daily life. Scientists like Strumia will argue that the incredible underrepresentation of women in Physics isn’t discriminatory, because “physics [was] invented and built by men. It’s not by invitation.” When discussing the presentation, Maude Bédard, a U2 Physics undergraduate said, “what sucks is that it’s not surprising.” This attitude is unfortunate but not uncommon in the field. This leads to women feeling isolated, inexperienced, and unwelcomed. It also works to discourage women and femmes from entering the field.

The issues that modern women face in male-dominated fields like Physics, are often subtle and subconscious. Barriers are put in place largely by a culture that encourages and celebrates men’s intellectual goals but discourages the same from women. Tami Pereg-Barnea, a Physics professor at McGill said, “Very early on, we don’t educate our girls to be smart, we educate them to be nice. We don’t empower them enough.” We often raise men and women in a binary system, where one is treated differently from the other, and taught to enjoy different things. Brigitte Vachon, a Physics Professor at McGill and founder of the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, says she noticed the difference in the way her children were treated as early as three years old. She explained that she found her son was complimented on his ability to count or play with Lego, while her daughter was more often complimented on her appearance. She said, “I caught myself doing it. Everybody does that. We talk to children differently.” 

This subconscious bias in the way men and women are treated only gains strength as children get older and advance into academia. Vachon pointed out that the adjectives used to describe women and men in reference letters are vastly different. Women will be described for their administrative capabilities, and men for their innate intelligence;  “She’s working really hard, she’s delivering, she’s organized,” as opposed to, “he’s brilliant and intelligent.” Pereg-Barnea noted  that she “didn’t get a single request from female undergraduate students to do a project with me. But men find it ok to suggest that they come here to talk about my research, even when they know nothing about it.” 

As women in western culture, we will often internalize the biases we grew up with. This can lead to a lack of assertiveness; women find themselves being non-confrontational and unassuming in their field. According to a study on gender differences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), reported by Statistics Canada, “women are always less likely to choose a STEM program, regardless of mathematical ability. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a test which evaluates 15 year old students on their reading, math, and science capabilities in various countries around the world. Among those who went to university, 23 per cent of women in the three highest categories of PISA scores chose a STEM program, compared with 39 per cent of men in the three lowest categories of PISA scores.”

Imposter syndrome also contributes to lower levels of female representation in the field. Described as a feeling of chronic self-doubt and inadequacy despite obvious success, imposter syndrome can often cause women to feel hesitant to participate, or feel unwelcome around their peers. This is a feeling common in teachers and students amongst other professions.Vachon shared that she  is “always very nervous about saying anything or questioning people, but  [her] male colleagues will not shy away.”   Imposter syndrome feeds into a lack of representation in the faculty, and vice versa. Only 13 per cent of the Physics faculty at McGill is female. “It’s so intimidating when you don’t have a place in this field. It’s hard to feel like you have a chance when the statistics tell you that it’s so unlikely,” explained Katie Savard, another U2 Physics undergraduate. Many students don’t get to learn from women as their professors until later into their degree. Pereg-Barnea pointed out, “we still have this image of a scientist, which isn’t necessarily a woman.” 

Undermining the abilities of women in the field has been normalized, and is often done subconsciously. The fact that the experiences of women are often subtle and not immediately apparent to men makes it difficult to describe or point out specific problematic behaviors. It seems that many males in the undergraduate program don’t notice the barriers their female classmates face. Women can experience a fear of being misunderstood, or being told they’re overreacting, and many often notice that men will get defensive when these problems are pointed out to them. “You [men] choose to victimize yourselves”, said Chloé Robeyns, a Physics U2 undergraduate student. Strumia is a prime and outspoken example. “Men don’t think about these things because it doesn’t happen to them. But if you care about women, you need to start paying attention,” expressed Savard.

The sources used here represent the experiences of white women in Physics. There are other barriers, such as those  faced by queer people, people of colour, and people with disabilities, which also deserve public discussion. Not only is there a lack of representation for these groups, but the barriers facing these groups are often greater than those faced by white women in Physics. To begin changing the field, we must listen to all those who are starting conversations and asking to be heard.

This conversation is, however, active and ongoing in the STEM community. Important forums like the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, or the Women in Physics Canada Conference (being held at McGill this summer) are organized to create a welcoming and supportive community for women. “I think one of the key aspects of helping to develop an interest in physics within young women is providing them with some kind of inspiration. Being exposed to more women in Physics, relating to them and hearing their challenges and successes are all so important,” said Juliann Wray, a Physics undergraduate student. Conferences such as these “seem to be filling a need for discussion, for providing a safe space,” said Vachon. Change is happening, and it is now critical to make the discussion bigger and louder. Now more than ever it’s important to  foster safe spaces where women are free from the internal barriers caused by external cultural norms that hinder the confidence and feelings of competence in young women. Opening up the conversation is a big step in breaking down the barriers women face.

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The film exuded a sense of commitment and drive, and asserted that, with enough care, dedication, and solidarity, young people in Canada can create meaningful change.

Connecting Youth through Film
Indigenous rights, climate change representation, immigration, and trans and queer rights are all discussed throughout the film. Rising Voices showcases the fluidity, creativity, and intelligence of Canadian youth as they tackle significant issues in their communities. Assoufi and Lobel initially conceived the film through the project ‘Wish150,’ an initiative under TakingITGlobal meant to engage Canadian youth in Canadian culture and history, in this case particularly for Canada’s 150th anniversary of the Confederation, the colonial occupation of the land. The idea for a full length movie organically emerged as the co-directors began talking to young people participating in the project and learned about their dreams and aspirations. According to the Canada150’s official website, the anniversary “focused on engaging and inspiring youth; celebrating our diversity and encouraging inclusion; establishing a spirit of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and discovering Canada’s natural beauty and strengthening environmental awareness.” Supporting the documentary Rising Voices is an unsuitably small step towards rectifying the atrocities committed against Indigenous cultures, but is nonetheless a start.

Each location, topic, and individual is given only a short slice of time in the film, but there is a strong sense of connection and celebration throughout. Rather than deeply exploring just one issue that Canada faces, the film is described by Assoufi as more of a “call upon everyone to whatever caught their curiosity.” From Akwasasne, Ontario; Whitehorse, Yukon; Montreal, Quebec; Toronto, Ontario; St-John’s, Newfoundland; Vancouver, British Columbia, and many more, young people with awareness of social issues first-hand are using their privilege and awareness to bring attention to the problems discussed. Many of their peers who encounter the same obstacles often find themselves underrepresented because they are part of a minority group, or come from remote villages that garner less attention from the government. What connects the youth interviewed in the movie, and the groups they represent, is that they all fight an uphill battle. Many different perspectives are presented, yet it feels like there is an ongoing conversation between everyone featured. There’s a strong sense that everyone is working towards the same final goal — a better Canada.

Hearing the Indigenous and Queer Youth of Canada
Issues such as language loss, land ownership, and settler ignorance of the Indigenous genocide continue to perpetrate harm towards Indigenous people, and are frequently discussed by the young people in the movie. Roundpoint and other activists emphasized that there needs to be a dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures that’s more open and receptive to change. She and the other advocates for Indigenous rights talk about the importance of regaining a connection with land, culture, and ancestry through artistic expression. Young people all over the country dance, sing, carve, and paint to raise awareness and regain a connection that the settler state of Canada has tried to sever them from. One of the activists in the film noted the importance of tradition, and of honouring ancestors and their sacrifices. The youth interviewed demonstrate a fluidity and openness in their art, which included a variety of expressions like traditional dances, electro-pop music, and original songs about Indigenous history to work towards changing outdated Canadian perspectives. “What was mentioned in the film is that we are thriving; we are no longer surviving,” said Roundpoint during the panel.

Issues such as language loss, land ownership, and settler ignorance of the Indigenous genocide continue to perpetrate harm towards Indigenous people, and are frequently discussed by the young people in the movie.

The documentary also expands on trans and queer rights in relation to Canadian youth. In Whitehorse, Yukon, Chase Blodgett, a transgender activist, uses his voice and experiences to help people in his community gain political rights. During the movie, Blodgett points out that Yukon is the only place in Canada with no laws governing trans, intersex, and queer discrimination in the workplace, and that that needs to change. His activism and outreach has greatly improved the discourse that surrounds transgender rights in his province and across Canada. Similarly, there are many young people in Toronto, Ontario working for the organization Pieces to Pathways to change the stigma surrounding addiction and how it is treated, particularly in queer communities. They provide an alternative to the traditional programs found in normal rehabilitation centers. The LGBTQ+ community is particularly in need of these kinds of programs as they are more likely to suffer from mental health issues. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the risk of suicide or substance abuse for LGBTQ+ youth is 14 times higher than for heterosexual youth. People like Blodgett and the workers at Pieces to Pathways are protesting the conditions the Canadian government enables for queer, transgender, and intersex youth, and providing a voice and services that the government does not.

People like Blodgett and the workers at Pieces to Pathways are protesting the conditions the Canadian government enables for queer, transgender, and intersex youth, and providing a voice and services that the government does not.

Participating in the Conversation
Rising Voices and the young people featured are part of an effort to not only spark the conversation surrounding change initiated by Canadian youth, but also to keep it alive and progressive. The film connects seemingly unrelated problems by joining the young people making change in their communities and drawing on links between their experiences to create a cohesive picture of youth activist culture in Canada.

Unfortunately, the film isn’t available for viewing online. It will be screened on a tour around Canada throughout the year. The trailer can be viewed on vimeo.com under “Rising Voices Documentary Trailer 2018.”

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