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Mental Health

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'I couldn't reach him any more': Substance use rises with recession, pandemic

'I couldn't reach him any more': Substance use rises with recession, pandemic

"I miss the person he was when we first met. I miss my friend.”
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'It did get taken out on me': Domestic abuse climbs during economic downturn, pandemic

'It did get taken out on me': Domestic abuse climbs during economic downturn, pandemic

The 2015 spike in abuse Palmer experienced was not rare for people suffering from abuse across the province.
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'He was the best guy': Questions, grief and advocacy follow suicide deaths

'He was the best guy': Questions, grief and advocacy follow suicide deaths

Sixteen more people die by suicide for every per cent the unemployment rate increases.
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'It's scary': Camp lifestyle stretches oilfield workers to the breaking point

'It's scary': Camp lifestyle stretches oilfield workers to the breaking point

“You start thinking, ‘This is not where I want to be at 50 years old.’ And I know for a fact, it’s definitely not where my husband wanted to be at 55.”
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‘There were some dark nights’: Oilfield workers fight for jobs and hope as industry flounders

‘There were some dark nights’: Oilfield workers fight for jobs and hope as industry flounders

“Our industry is so volatile. You’ve got your peaks and you got your lows, and we know that. But this has been going on for five years. There are guys that haven’t worked for three years.”
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COVID-19 robs rodeo stars of community, identity and income

COVID-19 robs rodeo stars of community, identity and income

"Rodeo has always felt like my home."
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Farmers shed light on silent fight against mental illness

Farmers shed light on silent fight against mental illness

"I didn’t tell my friends – didn’t tell anybody. I just went inward. I hunkered down, and I just closed off to the world. My brain just went to mush. I couldn’t even make a decision to go see a doctor.”
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Message from the editor: Struggling for Hope shines a crucial light on mental health

Message from the editor: Struggling for Hope shines a crucial light on mental health

Rankin's story – heartbreaking and familiar – clearly resonated with people across Canada.
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'It hurts': Workers grapple with the mental impacts of Alberta's recession

'It hurts': Workers grapple with the mental impacts of Alberta's recession

“I’m dealing with it. I have to be strong for my family. I shut myself into my bedroom sometimes and bawl my eyes out."
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The struggle for hope amid economic hardship

The struggle for hope amid economic hardship

A new series from Great West Newspapers journalist Jennifer Henderson investigates the relationship between the mental health of Albertans and our economy.
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