Category: Instructor Lesson Notes

Youth on Mental Health Policy

Youth on Mental Health Policy Unit Takeaways Recognize how children and youth are characterized within Canadian mental health policy. Consider the implications of how children and youth are represented in policy, and how their agency and inclusion offer new interpretations. Reflect on the gap that racialized youth see between how people who create mental health …

Letters to Professionals

Letters to Professionals Unit Takeaways To explore the messages that youth have for mental health professionals about what helps and what hinders their wellbeing. To consider the ways young people experience their mental health in relation to what they need from professionals and professional services. To recognize microaggressions committed against children and youth because of …

Resisting Adultism in Mental Wellbeing

Resisting Adultism in Mental Wellbeing Unit Takeaways Through an understanding of intersectionality, examine the ways discourses about “childhood” intersect with mental health discourses from the perspectives of psychiatrized youth. By looking at how youth understand mental health, and mental health issues, recognize how psychiatrized youth resist pathologization of their experiences of distress in childhood. By …

Mad Artists’ Gallery

Mad Artists’ Gallery Takeaways Appreciate the importance of art-making and creative self-expression as a healing practice for racialized mad people who often have adverse experiences in the traditional mental health system Understand art as a form of activist engagement with, and critique of, interlocking systems of oppression Recognize the value of art-making as a medium …

‘Claiming Space’

The ‘Claiming Space’ Unit Takeaways Analyse the diverse experiences of oppression and exclusion that exist for mad people across race, gender, class, culture and sexuality. Understand the importance of equitable political and community engagement and representation.  Explore how power affects racialized youth’s experiences of mental distress in a range of contexts and the importance of …

Component Evaluation: Language and Visualization

Component Evaluation: Language and Visualization Timing: 35 minutes; flexible Mode: In-class OPTION 1: In groups of 2-4 have students write down the word capitalism on a blank sheet of paper. Ask them to visualize the connections between capitalism, oppressions, and mental health that are discussed in Cheers to Capitalism. Once those connections are established, encourage …

Disappearing Completely

Disappearing Completely Takeaways Understand how the intersecting oppression of racism and sanism within mental health systems and in the community affect racialized people experiencing mental distress Analyze the intersections of race, gender, citizenship and mental distress for racialized people in Canada Appreciate the impacts of cultural expectations, stereotyping, and racism on individuals’ experiences of mental …

Component Evaluation: Discussion

Component Evaluation: Discussion Based Activity Timing: 30 minutes; flexible Mode: In-class; online After going through the module and unit content hold a discussion that looks at the various intersections pointed out by Ashley. You may also post these questions to an online forum for an asynchronous discussion. What do interlocking oppressions allow us to understand …

The “Inexplicable Maze”

The “Inexplicable Maze” Unit Takeaways Recognize that the mental health system is structured to enforce racism, sexism, sanism, and other forms of oppression Understand the effects of trying to navigate a system that has been created and mobilized to oppress, negate, and abuse those who are already marginalized Appreciate the importance of intersectional resistance and …

Psychiatric Hollywood

Psychiatric Hollywood Takeaways Recognize how emotions can motivate us to engage with ourselves, our own beliefs, and others through self-reflection and dialogue Acknowledge how diagnosis and treatment can stigmatize and oppress marginalized groups and survivors of trauma Understand how fiction and non-fiction art can participate in bearing witness and storytelling Components Psychiatric Hollywood Audio Series …