Caring for One's Mental Health During an Era of Social, Political, and Human Rights Uncertainty
- Giovanni Arcuri
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Author: Gio Arcuri, OT, MSc
Occupational Therapist • University Lecturer • Founder, Clinique Vivago
Date: January 15, 2026
A Clinical, Human Perspective Grounded in the Québec Reality
Over the past few months, many people have been coming to consultation with a phrase that keeps resurfacing, expressed in a thousand different ways:
“I feel like the world is becoming more hostile.”
Between the rollback of certain human rights in the United States, global political instability, and major transformations within Québec’s healthcare system, the current social climate is weighing heavily on mental health—even among people who had never sought care before.
At Clinique Vivago, we are observing more and more clearly that psychological distress does not arise in a vacuum. It is deeply connected to the social, political, and institutional environment in which we live.
Why Changes in Rights and Policies Directly Affect Mental Health
Research is clear: social uncertainty, the loss of protections, and structural discrimination are major contributors to chronic stress.
Clinically, this often presents as:
• increased anticipatory anxiety,
• a constant sense of insecurity,
• profound emotional fatigue,
• loss of trust in institutions,
• and, at times, social withdrawal or feelings of helplessness.
Clinical Anecdote (Modified to Preserve Anonymity)
A young adult recently shared during a consultation:
“I don’t even live in the United States, but every new law I see makes me feel like my rights are fragile everywhere. Like I could lose everything overnight.”
This type of reaction is normal. The human brain is wired to detect threats—and when those threats are systemic (laws, institutions, political discourse), stress becomes diffuse, constant, and difficult to shut off.
What’s Happening in the United States… and Why It Affects Us Here
Even from a distance, changes occurring in the United States have a real psychological impact in Canada, particularly for:
LGBTQ+ individuals,
women,
racialized people,
immigrants,
healthcare and education professionals.
Research shows that repeated exposure to policies or discourse perceived as hostile increases anxiety and depressive symptoms, even among those not directly targeted.
This phenomenon is increasingly described as sociopolitical stress, a concept gaining recognition in mental health research.
And in Québec? Changes That Also Undermine Mental Health
It would be inaccurate to believe that Québec is immune.
1. Transformations in the Healthcare System
Reforms within Québec’s healthcare system, combined with workforce shortages, have led to:
reduced access to mental health services,
longer wait times,
increased strain on the public system,
significant moral distress among care providers.
Clinical Anecdote
Many clients tell us:
“I tried the public system, but I gave up. I was too exhausted to fight for help.”
This abandonment of care is a major public health issue, recognized by both Québec and Canadian institutions.
2. Individualization of Responsibility
Increasingly, distress is treated as an individual problem:
Breathe. Meditate. Be resilient.
However, individual resilience cannot compensate for failing systems. This pressure to “be okay despite everything” can intensify guilt, isolation, and feelings of personal failure.
Documented Impacts on Mental Health (Evidence-Based Findings)
Scientific literature shows that:
institutional discrimination is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depressive disorders,
political uncertainty increases chronic stress,
feelings of social insecurity affect sleep, concentration, and emotional regulation,
marginalized communities experience heightened psychological distress when legal protections are reduced.
How to Take Care of Your Mental Health in This Context
1. Name the Stress as Rational
You are not “too sensitive.”
Your reaction is proportional to the environment.
Validating your emotions is a fundamental therapeutic step.
2. Regulate Your Exposure to the News
Staying informed matters—but overexposure to anxiety-provoking news increases distress.
Helpful strategies include:
limiting news consumption to specific time blocks,
choosing reliable sources,
taking intentional digital breaks.
3. Reconnect With the Body and Meaningful Occupations
In occupational therapy, we know that engaging in meaningful activities (creation, movement, social connection, stable routines) is a powerful protective factor.
Even small daily actions can restore a sense of control.
4. Anchor Yourself in Community
Isolation amplifies distress.
Creating or maintaining connections—even imperfect ones—is a key emotional protection strategy.
Seeking help is not a failure—it is an act of clarity and self-protection.
At Clinique Vivago, we adopt an inclusive, human, and functional approach that takes into account:
the social context,
systemic factors,
and the real impact of the environment on daily functioning.
An Important Message From Clinique Vivago
Your mental health does not depend solely on your personal efforts.
It is also shaped by:
public policies,
access to care,
the social climate,
and the respect of your rights.
Taking care of yourself today sometimes also means resisting the normalization of the unacceptable.
About the author
Gio Arcuri, OT, MSc, is an occupational therapist, McGill University lecturer, healthcare entrepreneur, writer and CEO of Clinique de santé inclusive Vivago. He also is President of Fondation Vivago, advancing inclusive mental health. His work—on family-centered care, young adult mental health access, and more—appears in peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Gio is also a member of the mental health expert committee for Fondation Jeunes en tête and columnist for Les Connecteurs on Apple News and has been featured in La Presse and on AMI-télé, sharing his expertise widely. He champions evidence-based, accessible care, especially for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
References
Agence de la santé publique du Canada. (2020). Inégalités en matière de santé mentale au Canada. Gouvernement du Canada.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Stress in America™ 2020: Stress in the time of COVID-19.
Hatzenbuehler, M. L., Phelan, J. C., & Link, B. G. (2013). Stigma as a fundamental cause of population health inequalities. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5), 813–821.
Human Rights Watch. (2025, June 3). “They’re ruining people’s lives”: Bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the US. Human Rights Watch.
World Health Organization, & Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. (2014). Social determinants of mental health. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all.
Wilcock, A. A., & Hocking, C. (2015). An occupational perspective of health (3rd ed.). SLACK Incorporated.
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