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 challenges and heartbreaking moments of a family living with the realities of severe mental illness. Follow L...
Jun 14, 2025•26 min
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 perpetuate a conception that they are unpredictably violent. But how accurate is this belief, and how does...
Jun 07, 2025•24 min
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 serious mental illness. It encourages people to accept and live with the symptoms of severe mental illness,...
May 31, 2025•25 min
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 conversation, Corey talks about his silent battle with mental illness, which included experiencing intrusiv...
May 24, 2025•26 min
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 they faced, and the changes they hope to see in campus mental health resources. The episode also brief...
Feb 05, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 7
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. But after the cheers faded, she realized she was facing a new challenge: depression. Hear about Silken...
Jan 29, 2025•28 min
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 explores the challenges of navigating her sister's diagnosis, the misunderstandings that arise, and...
Jan 22, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 6
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 conversation touches on coping mechanisms, medications, and the power of humour. Revisit this insightful discussion about t...
Jan 15, 2025•31 min
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 conditions like schizophrenia. Dr. Minichino discusses emerging research on how gut health might inform per...
Jan 08, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 5
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 down key findings, including the heightened risk for teens, why early cannabis use is especially dangerous...
Dec 04, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 4
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 in finding a diagnosis, and the emotional toll on their family. The episode explores the challenges o...
Nov 20, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 3
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 education, and collaboration between neurologists and psychiatrists. By understanding how epilepsy can...
Nov 06, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 2
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 treatments and explore alternative options available. From long-acting injectables to combinations of medic...
Oct 23, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 1
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 life while experiencing psychosis. With a mix of expert insights and personal experiences, each epi...
Oct 09, 2024•2 min
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 contemplations of suicide at the age of 21. In a candid conversation, Corey discusses his experiences with intru...
Mar 27, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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 topic with Dr. William Honer, Jack Bell Chair in Schizophrenia Research, and a professor at the Universi...
Mar 13, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Being a caregiver to a person grappling with a serious mental illness like schizophrenia isn't easy. Schizophrenia is a complex and often misunderstood illness that affects those living with the illness as well as those who love and care for them. A caregiver's responsibility goes beyond mere physical care. Caregiving can take on many forms. On this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined, Paula Bomer shares her story about the complex realities some families face when a loved one has ...
Feb 28, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this episode, our discussion revolves around a controversial question: Can mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, be cured? We tackle that question and more with a distinguished guest, Dr. Daniel Weinberger, the director and CEO of the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Together, we discuss the complexities of researching the sources of mental illness and the age-old nurture versus nature discussion. Driven by the pursuit of answers, we navigate the nuanced concept of 'curing mental il...
Feb 14, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Psychotic disorders are amongst the most severe and disabling of all mental disorders. In this episode, discover the ground-breaking world of Virtual Reality (VR) therapy for psychosis. Join Dr. Mar Rus-Calafell, a clinical psychologist and professor in Germany, as she explains how VR complements traditional therapies. Participants can explore immersive scenarios to learn skills to cope with auditory hallucinations, social difficulties, or cognitive challenges. Uncover the evolution of VR techno...
Jan 31, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, we explore the critical theme of impaired insight in severe and persistent mental illness, known as anosognosia. Dr. Nicole DeTore, Director of Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, guides us through her groundbreaking research on early intervention services, particularly the NAVIGATE program, which offers hope for individuals experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP). Dr. DeTore reveals the program's principles, its international reach, and the indispensable role of fami...
Jan 17, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In the season 4 premiere of Look Again, our hosts delve into the relationship between mental health, mental illness, and social media with Kody Green, also known online as @SchizophrenicHippie. Kody shares his personal journey of being diagnosed with schizophrenia and the unanticipated role of becoming a 'Mental Illness Social Media Influencer' when he went viral on TikTok. The conversation touches on coping mechanisms, medications, and the power of humour. Join us for an insightful discussion a...
Jan 03, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Get ready for Season 4 of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined. This season, we're diving deep into the 'big questions' that families can face during different stages of the mental illness journey. From recognizing initial symptoms to the pursuit of a diagnosis, navigating the complexities of symptoms to the search for effective treatment, and addressing the daunting task of dealing with serious mental illness. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of the BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) along with co-host...
Dec 06, 2023•2 min
Does a person's race affect the treatment they may receive for a serious and chronic mental illness? As we have heard through our discussions with experts, people living with schizophrenia, and family members—conscious and unconscious biases can play a huge role in how a person is treated within the health care system. Multiple studies and reports have also illustrated that systemic racism influences access to, and the experience of, mental health care for racialized Canadians. The treatment of ...
Jan 25, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Like any prescription medication, Abilify, Risperdal, Clozapine, and other anti-psychotics have side effects. And like any medication, they are prescribed to help a person manage an illness. Anti-psychotics can help with a number of different illnesses, but 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 serio...
Jan 11, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Television and film like to portray people with schizophrenia as young, white men. And yet, in real life, schizophrenia is not as seen on TV — especially for women. Scientists are now seeing how illnesses like schizophrenia can impact men and women differently, which means more research needs to be done around women and serious mental illnesses. Does this affect women getting an accurate diagnosis or accessing care? And what additional stigma or discrimination might a woman experience? We will c...
Dec 07, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 5
It’s not easy to talk about the effect schizophrenia can have on one’s family members, especially a sibling. It can have a significant emotional, psychological, and physical impact on loved ones, as they balance their love for their family member and the sharme around this disease. In this episode, we have a very honest, frank, and vulnerable conversation with Yusuf Faqiri about his brother Soleiman who lived with schizophrenia until 2016, when he died in an Ontario jail. Yusuf shares his own jo...
Nov 23, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 4
If you’re the child of a parent who lives with mental illness, you can be faced with a lot of tough challenges. You may feel overwhelmed, sad, scared or even angry. You may resent your parent for not being like the other parents. Or you could also wind up as a caregiver and try to fix everything. In her lifetime, Dr. Grace Cho, author of her memoir Tastes Like War , says she has had three mothers. The mother of her childhood, before schizophrenia. The mother of her adolescence, a woman who is vi...
Nov 09, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 3
While there's no way to predict whether a person with a mental illness will become violent, there's still a common understanding that those diagnosed with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are unpredictably aggressive. This can be seen in how people living with mental illness, substance use, and violence are portrayed through the news, TV, or movies. But these misconceptions can fuel the stigma towards people living with severe and persistent mental illness. How do we address the ...
Oct 26, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 2
It is not an easy decision to call the police or an ambulance to take a loved one to a psychiatric facility - all in the hopes that they get the treatment they need and deserve. But sometimes people with an untreated mental illness lose insight into the fact they are ill and will not accept voluntary treatment, even when their illness may be causing harm to themselves or others. The BC Mental Health Act allows people experiencing a serious mental health crisis to get help through involuntary tre...
Oct 12, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In its third season "Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined" wades into some controversial territory. Launching Oct. 12th, join us every two weeks as we dive into some hot topics -- involuntary treatment, the consequences of refusing medication, how race and gender impacts diagnosis and treatment, just to name a few. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of the BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS), challenges you to "look again" and reconsider your beliefs, perceptions and understanding of serious mental illness...
Sep 20, 2022•2 min
