Mental Health

The art show Still Sane hit the Vancouver art scene in 1984. It told the story of Sheila Gilhooly's entrapment within the phychiatric system in the late 60s and early 70s, when homosexuality was still a category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and sexism was rife in the profession. Twelve months later the book Still Sane rolled off the presses of the local feminist publisher Press Gang, bringing the show's compelling mix of feminist, lesbian and mad politics to a wider audience.

This subsection contains material on awareness and advocacy surrounding women’s mental health and treatment. Key themes include the pathologization of women’s mental health issues (particularly those precipitated by various forms of oppression), their experiences navigating medical and psychiatric systems, and the emergence of women-led counselling and mental health supports.

Archival Materials

Buttons
No, Thanks! Addicted Women’s Self-Help Network

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English

Documents
About the Women’s Counselling Referral and Education Centre

  • Year created:

    1979

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Helping Ourselves

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
The Organization of Social Services & Its Implications for the Mental Health of Immigrant Women

  • Year created:

    1979

  • Author(s):

    Ana Bodnar, Marilee Reimer

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Who Do We Think We Are? Self-Image & Women With Disabilities

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Jillian Ridington

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

  • Language:

    English
Women Working with Immigrant Women: Statement on Mental Health

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Women’s News/Bulletin Femmes (Ottawa) – May 1987

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English
Women’s Counselling Referral and Education Centre – Who Are We?

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English

Films

Still from the film "Turnaround" featuring four white women of varying ages sitting on the ground talking.
Turnaround: A Story of Recovery

  • Year created:

    1984

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Moira Simpson

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Still from the film "Until Someone Listens" depicting a black and white archival image of white women who were institutionalized in the 20th century.
Until Someone Listens

  • Year created:

    1999

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Laura Sky

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    Ontario

Posters
I’m Not Mad I’m Angry

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
A poster for a benefit performance and dance organized in 1979 by the Women's Counselling Referral and Education Centre (WCREC). The event featured Mama Quilla II
Women’s Counselling Referral and Education Centre Benefit

  • Year created:

    1979

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English