While it is essential to recognize and address the challenges associated with FASD, a strength-based approach has allowed me to consider the unique strengths and positive characteristics of each individual with the disability.
Trainee Series: Considering Implicit Bias as a Mental Health Professional
As mental health professionals, it is our responsibility to engage in reflective practice and consider how assumptions, stigma, and implicit bias can impact our thinking and behaviour in the context of providing support to people with FASD.
Feature Friday: How Canadian Psychology Programs support FASD learning for Future Psychologists
Psychologists have a unique role in diagnosing, assessing, and supporting a variety of individuals with different mental health needs and disabilities, including individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Because of the diversity and unique characteristics of individuals with FASD, it is crucial that psychologists are prepared to support individuals and their families with the best evidence-based care.
Working with The Towards Healthy Outcomes Framework: Lessons from a Graduate Research Assistant
Since 2018, I have worked on several research projects related to the Towards Healthy Outcomes (THO) framework… I would like to share some of what I have learned with you here.
Caregivers’ Perspectives on Building Strengths and Abilities in FASD
Today you’ll hear from members of our Family Advisory Committee who care for someone with FASD. In their own words, they share why recognizing and celebrating strengths is so important and talk about some of their recent successes.
Feature: Niall’s Favourite Accomplishment
I hosted a National event that has never been in the province of Saskatchewan history and later found out that it was also the first National event in the city of Warman’s history.
Researchers’ Perspectives on Building Strengths and Abilities in FASD
In this blog, researchers Katherine Flannigan, Kelly Harding, and Jacqueline Pei explain in their own words why research on strengths is essential and talk about what draws them to this field.
NB government commits $800,000 to FASD Center of Excellence while NS remains silent
As speaker after speaker stepped up to the podium, I was awestruck by this void. Why, I kept wondering, is no one else addressing this issue?
The Mental Health Commission of Canada continues to ignore individuals with FASD
New suicide fact sheets have just been released by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) that focus on suicide prevention among groups who may be at increased risk. But a group of individuals at extraordinarily high risk of suicide is missing from the conversation: those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Arctic Poppy in Bloom: A reflection on the impact of the Residential Schools
I am writing as a long-time parent of adult sons who live with the challenging impacts of trauma and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and who have been affected by the multi-generational legacy of Indian Residential Schools and colonial treatment of Canada’s First Peoples. I am writing to share my profound personal experience after a week of sadness when I was struggling to find words.