January 2022

Let’s Talk About Stigma, Mental Health, and FASD

canfasdblogJanuary 26, 2022UncategorizedLeave a Comment

The goal of Bell Let’s Talk Day is to spread awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma, increase accessibility to treatment, and make a positive change in the attitude towards mental illness nationally. This is an important opportunity to bring fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) into the conversation around mental health.

Celebrating Education Day 2022

canfasdblogJanuary 24, 2022Holidays and EventsLeave a Comment

“Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility.” By working together, schools and families can support and maintain an education system that is inclusive to all. It is our public responsibility to do so.

Employment Services for People with FASD

canfasdblogJanuary 21, 2022UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Optimizing Employment Opportunities and Outcomes for People with FASD with Lisa Murphy, Blair Charters, Aamena Kapasi, and host, Darren Joslin. Free CanFASD Webinar on January 28, 2022.

Employment can be an important part of creating a positive identity and increasing self-esteem, but people with FASD often face challenges finding and maintaining meaningful employment.

FASD Advocates Criticize SNL for Inappropriate Sketch

canfasdblogJanuary 19, 2022CanFASD AnnouncementsLeave a Comment

CanFASD Statement January 19, 2022 On January 15, 2022, NBC’s Saturday Night Live broadcast an inappropriate skit about alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Positioned as a comedy, this sketch poked fun at a teenage boy for his hygiene and social behaviour, before revealing he was prenatally exposed to alcohol. This is ableism. Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a lifelong disability impacting the brain and body. “Jokes” like this contribute to negative stereotypes and persistent stigma around FASD. This stigma negatively impacts people with FASD, their families, and people who are pregnant and using substances, making it harder to get much-needed funding and support. This stigma can also lead to feelings of shame and contribute to social isolation. Drinking during pregnancy is not a punchline. FASD is not a joke. Advocating for our community can feel like an uphill battle, especially at times like this. It is disheartening when a popular media outlet further perpetuates negative stigma, stereotypes, and misinformation that causes harm to our community. Everyone has a responsibility to learn about FASD, so that dehumanizing and traumatizing content like this is not broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide. This event highlights the need for a National FASD Strategy to further raise awareness and understanding of Canada’s leading developmental disability.

Unfortunately, not all news we get to share is good news. Over the weekend, NBC’s Saturday Night Live published an inappropriate sketch featuring a character with prenatal alcohol exposure.

New Webinar: Optimizing Employment Opportunities and Outcomes

canfasdblogJanuary 12, 2022Conferences and EventsLeave a Comment

Article Summary #13: Prenatal Alcohol and Preschool Child Stress

canfasdblogJanuary 5, 2022UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Graphic of a hand in a suit with a magnifying glass looking at some papers lying on the ground. The background is blue.

The purpose of this German study was to examine EtG and basal cortisol activity (baseline stress) in preschoolers aged 6-9 years to determine if EtG could be an effective biomarker of PAE.

Article Summary #11: PAE and Developmental Programming of Mental Illness

canfasdblogJanuary 3, 2022Article SummariesLeave a Comment

There have been numerous research studies examining the impacts of high-dose alcohol consumption during pregnancy on postnatal development. However, there are not many studies on low and early dose effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the offspring’s mental health.

Article Summary #10: Self-Regulation and Emotional Reactivity in Infants with Prenatal Exposure

canfasdblogJanuary 2, 2022Article SummariesLeave a Comment

Over the last 13 years, there has been a 127% increase in opioid use disorders during pregnancy. However, developmental challenges associated with prenatal substance exposure have been under-explored, with no prior studies examining the combined effects of opioids and alcohol use during pregnancy.