Tag: Survival

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Breaking the silence

Graphic by Carleen Loney @shloneys

Overcoming mental health struggles in the shadows of stigma.

*Trigger warning: suicide.*

I’m alive. 

That was my first bewildered thought in the aftermath of my suicide attempt. Today, I peel back the layers of secrecy to share one of the darkest chapters of my life, not as a tale of despair, but as a beacon of resilience and transformation. My journey from the brink of death to survival is not just my story—it is a testament to the critical importance of seeking help for mental health struggles, especially amidst the suffocating grasp of societal stigma.

For years, I masked my pain behind a facade of normalcy, mastering the art of deception. Each day was a balancing act between the desperate yearning for peace and the flickering ember of hope that urged me to hold on. But after nearly a decade of silent suffering, that ember of hope was finally extinguished. I had exhausted every ounce of strength, every glimmer of resilience, leaving behind a hollow shell of despair.

The weight of my mental anguish was compounded by the paralyzing fear of societal judgment. I was gripped by the insidious notion that seeking help would only burden others or worse, brand me as a social pariah. This fear kept me shackled in silence, imprisoned in a labyrinth of despair with no escape in sight.

As a young adult navigating academia, the pressure to excel only added fuel to my inner turmoil. Each day was a relentless cycle of academic rigor and emotional turmoil, with no respite in sight. The weight of expectations bore down upon me like a heavy yoke, crushing my spirit.

But amidst the darkness, a lifeline was extended to me in my hour of need. The wellness program at Concordia University offered a sanctuary of solace, a safe haven. Through mindfulness sessions and counseling services, I found a beacon of light, a guiding hand to lead me out of the abyss.

However, my journey is not just about survival—it is about breaking the silence and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health struggles. For far too long, society has shrouded these issues in secrecy and shame, perpetuating a culture of silence that suffocates those in need of help.

As teenagers and young adults, we are tasked with dismantling the barriers that stand in the way of mental health awareness and support. Initiatives at Concordia University, such as the Zen Dens, wellness programs, mindfulness sessions, and Counseling and Psychological Services, serve as examples of what is possible when we prioritize mental health and well-being.

But our work is far from over. We must actively implement strategies to improve access to mental health resources and support services, both within our schools and communities. One effective approach is to establish dedicated mental health support centers or hotlines staffed by trained professionals who can offer immediate assistance to those in need. Additionally, integrating mental health education into school curriculums can help raise awareness and reduce stigma from a young age.

To my fellow survivors, I say this: You are not alone. Your struggles do not define you. And together, we can break the silence and light the path toward healing and hope.

It is not easy to come forward and share one’s struggles with mental health. The fear of being judged or dismissed can be paralyzing, trapping us in a cycle of silence and shame. But it is precisely this fear that we must confront head-on, for our own sake and that of countless others who may be suffering in silence.

Young adults, in particular, face unique challenges when it comes to mental health. The pressures of academic success, social acceptance, and uncertain futures can weigh heavily on our shoulders, exacerbating existing struggles and making it even harder to reach out for help. Yet, it is crucial that we are taken seriously and that our voices are heard when we speak up about our mental health needs.

Every day, more than 200 people attempt suicide in Canada, a staggering statistic that underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and support for mental health issues. Behind each of these attempts lies a story that deserves to be heard and acknowledged.

As we strive to break the silence surrounding mental health struggles, let us also work to create a more compassionate and understanding society—one where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength rather than weakness, and where no one is left to fight their battles alone. Together, we can pave the way toward a brighter, more hopeful future for all.

Categories
Arts

Squid Game’s striking portrayal of modern capitalist society

Squid Game has captivated audiences across the world with it’s twisted mix of Korean childhood games and violent massacres, but the show’s hidden message says more than audiences might think

Warning: Spoilers ahead, but no violent details will be discussed. 

If there is one series that has been on everyone’s lips, it’s no doubt the record-breaking Netflix show Squid Game. With more than 111 million viewers across the world, the visionary Korean series by Hwang Dong-hyuk has turned into the streaming service’s biggest debut show of all time.

The show is a striking mix of violence, pastel-coloured playgrounds and cinematic suspense, exhibiting masterful storytelling throughout. Despite only having nine episodes, the plot allows for immense character development; no one is painted one-dimensionally in Hwang’s explosive universe. In fact, the human complexity of each character is possibly one of the show’s greatest strengths.

The main character, Seong Gi-hun, with his irresponsible spending habits and poor parenting skills, doesn’t immediately tug at the audience’s heart strings; however, as the game progresses, we discover his light-hearted humour, good intentions and the almost foolish extent of his trust, all of which end up endearing him to us.

Meanwhile, the main character’s childhood best friend, Cho Sang-woo, isn’t the kind of person we would expect to fall into financial ruin. A business graduate at the top of his class, Cho is intelligent and clearly ambitious, but he finds himself trapped by excessive debt after his investments and business plans go wrong.

The range and contrast of characters prove that it isn’t only the most vulnerable which are affected by our society’s economic system. In fact, the show does a great job of showing a compelling and deeply symbolic interpretation of modern capitalist society overall.

For every single character, the world beyond childhood ultimately becomes a competitive hamster wheel in the search for economic stability. Eventually, financial failure marks their inevitable downfall into oblivion.

At first glance, it might be our instinct to blame the characters for their demise. It can be tempting to dismiss the players of the game as people willing to ditch their moral compass for money — but Hwang highlights an important distinction, making it clear that it’s not simply greed driving the players. When each person stares at the 45.6 billion won reward ($38.6 million USD), each one of them sees a different kind of salvation.

Abdul Ali, a Pakistani immigrant in the show, goes to South Korea in search of a better life, but is trapped by an exploitative boss. Unable to provide for his wife and newborn son, he joins the game to provide for his family.

One of the show’s more reserved characters, Kang Sae-byeok, is a North Korean defector. We are told that she flees North Korea with her little brother in search of a better life, but she ends up losing all of her money trying to broker an escape plan for her mother, who was returned to North Korea.

Kang turns to the game as a way to get her brother out of the orphanage he’s living in and rescue her mother — she has no great plans for spending the prize money otherwise. When asked about her wildest ambition she simply says she’d visit “Jeju Island” a South Korean tourist destination she once saw on the TV.

The point is, Hwang’s characters are not bad people, they’re just human. Their circumstances and poor financial decisions don’t mean that they deserve to live in perpetual poverty. The real question is why the capitalist system gives them no chance at redemption.

Much like in the game, if they stumble or fall, they end up eliminated from the race.

Squid Game might seem like a radical alternate universe at times, but as viewers we’re being asked to compare our society with that in the game; on the one hand you have the game exploiting people’s desperation for entertainment, on the other you have our society exploiting  people through loans, gambling and debt.

At least the game asks for the players’ consent before participating, and offers them some kind of financial compensation. Meanwhile, capitalist society fails to offer financial freedom to every character on the show, and never asks for consent before imposing itself upon them.

Society’s economic disparity is so evident on the show, that the rich sponsors of the game are convinced that they are doing the players a favour by creating a game where there is a small chance for them to improve their lives — even though the consequence is death.

Despite this, the show provides us with glimpses of hope in the form of individual acts of kindness. Beyond the violent executions and dramatic blood-splatterings, several characters display a level of compassion which has no other reason than a core desire to be kind.

Throughout the show, Seong consistently watches out for Oh Il-nam, an elderly man hopelessly participating in the games. Oh’s vulnerability is in sharp contrast to the game’s violence, and his fragility ends up moving Seong into aligning with him. Even though we know that the alliance is not strategic, we still root for Oh’s well-being because he appeals to our humanity.

Creator Hwang gives us several other glimpses at the characters’ better nature, early on in the show we see Ali rescue Seong during the red light, green light game by preventing his fall when he accidentally trips while running. By holding on to Seong, Ali risks his own life, but this one act of courage allows the main character to keep playing the game.

The insinuation is that, although human nature might have ruthlessness, it also has kindness. Our economic and social systems can bring out either one of these two streaks, and in an ideal world — one where the Squid Game wouldn’t seem like a possibility —  our society would guide us into being better, more compassionate people, where economic ruthlessness alone doesn’t determine our fate.

 

Graphic by James Fay

Categories
Student Life

Prepare yourselves—winter is coming

Here’s a checklist for those facing their first-ever Canadian winter

The first flakes floated around in the Friday skies on the downtown campus, hailing the true end of summer and the proper start of Canada’s second season: winter.

Welcome to the cold season. Population: you. From here on out the weather gets progressively colder and nastier till even Fahrenheit and Celsius get together and agree, “it’s bloody cold out.”

Here is the bad news: winter is coming, and it’s one frigid, icy, relentless season that will haunt you every time you dare to brave the outdoors. Here is the good news: it’s actually survivable.

Take it from the Vancouverite whose previous winter experience consisted of owning a solid pair of rainboots; I’m walking proof that you can make it through the next six (or seven) months and live to see the green shoots of spring.

For those of you in my (last year’s) shoes, here is a checklist of survival necessities. Send me a postcard from spring; I’m heading for some poutine in the meantime to prepare.

 

The Gear

  1. First and most importantly: a winter jacket. A parka is best, with down or synthetic filling that reaches at least to your knees (because frostbite on your thighs is a real thing). You want sleeves with elastics at the end of the arm, and a hood that entirely obscures your head. That fur lining (real or synthetic is fine) around the hood, when the jacket is fully zipped up, should entirely obscure your face because it keeps heat in near your skin and snow and ice off your eyelashes/beard. I wish I was kidding.

  1. Second most important is a solid pair of thermal lined, entirely waterproof boots. They should have thick rubber treads, and if you are not comfortable wading through ankle-deep piles of salty, grimy slush right out the door in them, they are not good enough. Uggs are most fashionable (and will keep you snug if you coat them with a waterproofing spray), but Sorrels work just as well, and will save you a couple hundred extra bucks.

These are both large financial investments, but remember that these are two things you will wear every. single. day. for the next five or so months. Talk to sales clerks while browsing and let them know you are a winter virgin, as their input and advice is invaluable and will ensure you get the right gear.

  1. Don’t spend too much on gloves or toques (knitted hats, welcome to Canada) as they are just base layers against the cold. Your hands will mostly be in your parka’s pockets and your hood will cover your head most of the time, but for that half-second you have your hands out and hood down, you’ll be grateful for them. Fleece and wool are warmest even when soaked in sweat from the several minutes you spent on the Metro.

  1. Another life hack is buying cheap but super-thick wool (warm) sweaters from thrift stores and long underwear or fleece leggings to wear under your pants. It’s an odd bit of science, but jeans are incapable of keeping your legs warm at all, yet keep them like icicles for hours after you re-enter a warm area.

  2. Scarves too. They’ll keep icy blasts of frigid air from ramming down your neck and you can pull them over your face to prevent frostbite if you’re outside for long periods. Wool is warmest but can be itchy against your skin.

 

Self-Care

  1. Constant below-zero temperatures and the hot and dry air inside are really rough on your skin. Using a moisturizer to slather your entire body every time you get out of the shower will help keep your skin from cracking, flaking, bleeding, or breaking out. Full-body moisturizing is a necessity, trust me.

Different moisturizers are recommended for your face and hands, unless you are a skin superhero and can use one for all. Your hands need a super-strength moisturizer and your face needs something lighter. Shop around and find something that works for your skin; we are all unique snowflakes, especially when it comes to skincare.

 

General Life Hacks

  1. A hot water bottle. After being outdoors for anywhere from five minutes to an hour, heading inside feels like stepping off of a plane into a tropical paradise. Here’s the problem: sometimes with the relative temperature change, you don’t realize how cold you still are. Hypothermia—or being so cold that your body can no longer generate heat and you can die—is an actual danger. Symptoms include feeling suddenly warm, sleepy, and no longer shivering. Heading to bed while hypothermic is dangerous because the blankets only insulate your cold body to keep in the cold. A hot water bottle is a life-saver. Toss it under your covers a couple of minutes before bed to avoid that icy-blankets feeling, use it to defrost your legs and toes after being outdoors for more than five minutes, and allow it to soothe your aching muscles after falling on the ice for the eighth time that day.

  1. Plastic window insulation. Most (all?) windows in Montreal are double-paned for increased insulation against the cold, but windows still feel like they’re seeping icy drafts into your cozy home when it’s 20-below out. Adding a layer of plastic insulation is a cheap and easy way to keep your home warm and keep your February Hydro-Quebec bill from being (as) horrifyingly expensive.

  2. And finally, a pair of skates! Winter is a long—sometimes seemingly endless—season. But Montreal is an amazing place in the winter and there are still tons of activities to do during the cold months. Almost every park is turned into a free skating rink where pickup neighbourhood hockey games are played. Snow shoeing and cross-country skiing are possible in the winter wonderland of Mount Royal park. And don’t get me started on the winter festivals like Igloofest and Nuit Blanche.

Winter is coming, but it’s survivable. And if you keep warm and take advantage of all winter has to offer, who knows. You might even find yourself sad when the warm winds of spring blow and it’s over.

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