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Artifact #1 - "My Birth" by Carmen Winant

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Artifact #1 - "My Birth" by Carmen Winant

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The artwork "My Birth" by Carmen Winant, featured at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, is a powerful display consisting of hundreds of images collected over decades from books and magazines, depicting individuals in the act of childbirth. The piece offers a profound visual representation of the intense and complex nature of birth experiences. It highlights not only the physical reality of childbirth but also the emotional depth, trauma, and diverse stories of the individuals who live it. In doing so, it brings necessary attention to the recognition of birth trauma as a legitimate and often overlooked aspect of the birthing experience. From a Hermeneutic Phenomenological (HP) lens, this piece underscores the importance of interpreting and understanding the unique lived experiences of each birthing individual.

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This GIF depicts a breathing exercise, which is a simple yet effective relaxation technique that calms the nervous system and eases the physical symptoms of anxiety. During my mental health clinical placement, I observed nurses using these exercises to support patients experiencing distress or anxiety. It was incredible to see how such guided techniques could quickly reduce physiological responses and help regulate a patient's breathing and heart rate. This really highlighted for me how vital these techniques are not only in managing stress and anxiety but also as a tool to help empower patients to take an active role in managing their mental health.

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The artwork titles, Imagining Futures of Care, is a digital mural created as part of VHA Home HealthCare's Fostering Dialogues project. The aim of this initiative is to use art to explore the personal experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults and Personal Support Workers (PSWs) within the home care system, build meaningful connections, and promote a more equitable and inclusive healthcare environment. The mural includes imagery that reflects both the challenges posed by systemic obstacles in home care for marginalized communities (snakes, clocks, and baggage) and symbols of hope (hearts, hands, and rainbows) that represent progress and change. This artifact highlights the need for inclusive and culturally competent care, and emphasizes the fact that achieving true healthcare equity requires not only identifying barriers but also actively collaborating with diverse communities to dismantle them and create a more just and compassionate system.

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Artifact #1 - Father's in the Delivery Room 

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Artifact #1 - Father's in the Delivery Room 

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This powerful photo is part of a collection that showcases the impact of fathers’ involvement in the delivery room and the birthing process. The image beautifully captures the raw emotions that parents experience during the life-changing event of childbirth. It highlights the important role that fathers and non-birthing partners have in the birthing process and shows that their active participation goes beyond mere presence to significantly influence the health and well-being of the entire family from a holistic perspective.

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This journal represents a valuable tool for emotional regulation and self-management in coping with depression and anxiety. Therapeutic journaling is an effective intervention that encourages patients to express their thoughts and feelings through writing and helps them identify cognitive distortions and monitor their mood patterns. During my mental health clinical placement, I observed that many therapeutic exercises emphasized written emotional expression. The mental health nurses used journals and worksheets to help patients process their experiences, gain emotional insights, and develop healthy coping strategies. This approach was especially effective in the pediatric unit, where it provided adolescents with a safe and structured outlet to explore and articulate complex emotions.

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This quote by Gabor Maté provides a crucial insight into trauma, including birth trauma. Maté emphasizes that trauma is not defined solely by the external traumatic event itself, but rather, it is defined by the internal, subjective experience and the lasting impact that trauma has on an individual. In the context of birth trauma, this perspective highlights that trauma does not solely refer to a difficult labor, delivery, or postpartum complication, but rather to the emotional, psychological, and physiological effects that these experiences can leave behind.

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Artifact #2 - Bridging the Divide: Equity in Nursing Practice

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Artifact #2 - Bridging the Divide: Equity in Nursing Practice

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I created this mixed-media artwork titled, Bridging the Divide: Equity in Nursing Practice, as a visual representation of equity in healthcare and the importance of nursing in breaking down systemic barriers. I was inspired by my firsthand experience working in the Emergency Department and the Access Interrupted section in the NURS 2001 course. The piece vividly contrasts the isolation and neglect faced by marginalized communities (depicted as a dark, rainy landscape) with the comfort of accessible, quality healthcare (represented by a bright, sunny landscape). A river down the centre symbolizes the systemic barriers, while a central bridge, constructed from words like "compassion," "advocacy," "inclusion," "justice," "equity," and "respect," highlights the foundational nursing concepts essential for connecting patients to appropriate care. This artifact emphasizes the role of nurses in bridging healthcare divides through relational practice and advocacy and underscores the need to dismantle systemic barriers and create a healthcare system that is truly equitable for everyone.

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This guided meditation is a strong example of an effective coping strategy for individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. Guided meditation promotes mindfulness by helping individuals gently redirect their focus from overwhelming thoughts and sensations to the present moment. During my mental health clinical placements, I found that activities that incorperate mindfulness or meditation had a noticeable positive impact on patients’ mood and outlook. Even simple practices such as listening to guided meditations, calming music, or artistic activites like painting or drawing proved to be powerful tools. These strategies not only support emotional regulation but they also empower patients to take an active role in managing their mental health and building resilience.

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Guided Meditation: Anxiety Relief - Rain Sound

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Guided Meditation: Anxiety Relief - Rain Sound

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This quote by Glenn Close perfectly captures the importance of open and honest conversations about mental health. It resonated with me because it expresses a necessary call to action, urging individuals to break the stigma surrounding mental health through transparency and authentic dialogue. Her use of the words "sunlight" and "candor" emphasizes the openness we need as a society to create space for these conversations. The phrase "unashamed conversation" highlights the importance of speaking about mental health struggles without fear, shame, or judgment. One of the most important lessons I’ve taken from the NURS 2001 course and my clinical placement is the vital role nurses have in creating safe and supportive environments that foster therapeutic communication, reduce isolation, and empower individuals to seek the care they need.

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Artifact #2 - Life on the Line Subway Poster (Facade by Felicity Tse) 

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Artifact #2 - Life on the Line Subway Poster (Facade by Felicity Tse) 

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This image depicts a piece of artwork from the Life on the Line project, a public art initiative featured on the Toronto TTC Subway that aims to challenge mental health stigma by sharing personal stories and encouraging open conversations about mental health in public spaces. The artwork shown, titled Facade by Felicity Tse, portrays a woman appearing happy and living an idealized life online, with a computer screen illuminating only her seemingly 'best' parts. In contrast, the space around her, outside the view of the camera, is dark, messy, and suggestive of depression. This clear contrast illustrates how mental health stigma can pressure individuals to maintain a deceptive online image, which ultimately prevents genuine conversations. I found this piece especially relevant in today’s digital world, as it delivers an important message, that we must look beyond curated appearances and instead create environments where vulnerability and honesty are encouraged, and where mental health support can be accessed without shame.

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Artifact #3 - The Enigma of Stigma by Sophie Riegel | TEDxDuke

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Artifact #3 - The Enigma of Stigma by Sophie Riegel | TEDxDuke

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The TEDx video by Sophie Riegel highlights the impact that our collective use of language has on how society perceives individuals living with mental illnesses. Sophie shares her personal experience with mental health stigma and explains how terms like “mental health problems” or “issues” contribute to the shame and stigma surrounding mental health. She uses the example that, in a healthcare context, we would not say someone has a “problem” with cancer and she asks, why do we use that language when referring to mental health conditions? I appreciated Sophie’s insights, as they build on what I found to be one of the most impactful concepts discussed in NURS 2001, which is critically analyzing the language we use when talking about mental health, recognizing the meaning and stigma embedded in that language, and actively choosing words that center the person rather than stigmatize them for living with a mental health condition.

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The Enigma of Stigma: Redefining The Way We Talk About Mental Health | Sophie Riegel | TEDxDuke

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A systematic review of coping skill interventions to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms among adults with hematologic malignancies

Mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety and depression

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Podcast: Depression & Anxiety Finding Strength in Coping 

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Podcast: Depression & Anxiety Finding Strength in Coping 

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Andersen, L., McHugh, M., Ulrich, C. M., Meghani, S. H., & Deng, J. (2022). A systematic review of coping skill interventions to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms among adults with hematologic malignancies. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 61, 102224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102224

Bhattacharya, S., & Hofmann, S. G. (2023). Mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety and depression. Clinics in Integrated Care, 16(100138), 100138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcar.2023.100138

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Artifact #3 - Birth Trauma's Debilitating Impacts on Physical and Mental Health

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Artifact #3 - Birth Trauma's Debilitating Impacts on Physical and Mental Health

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This powerful video combines personal accounts and expert insights to highlight the profound physical and psychological impact of traumatic birth experiences. Through interviews with birthing individuals and healthcare professionals, this video sheds light on the often overlooked realities of birth trauma, including severe perineal tears (e.g. episiotomies and lacerations), hemorrhage, instrumental deliveries (e.g. vacuum or forceps), and newborn resuscitation. I found the video particularly eye opening, as it reveals how common birth trauma is and how frequently women and birthing individuals are dismissed and left without adequate support. This video emphasizes how inadequate postpartum care and the lack of recognition for these 'invisible injuries' can have lasting and devastating effects, significantly reducing the quality of life for those affected.

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Birth trauma's debilitating impacts on physical and mental health | 7.30

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Mental health stigma: The impact of age and gender on attitudes

Review: School-based interventions to improve mental health literacy and reduce mental health stigma - A systematic review

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Podcast: Mental Health Stigma, Awareness, Action, and Words

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Podcast: Mental Health Stigma, Awareness, Action, and Words

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References

Bradbury, A. (2020). Mental health stigma: The impact of age and gender on attitudes. Community Mental Health Journal, 56(5), 933–938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00559-x

Ma, K. K. Y., Anderson, J. K., & Burn, A. (2022). Review: School‐based interventions to improve mental health literacy and reduce mental health stigma – a systematic review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 28(2), 230–240. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12543

TEDx Talks . (2020, April 13). The Enigma of Stigma: Redefining The Way We Talk About Mental Health | Sophie Riegel | TEDxDuke. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VJuPNXpd8

Tse, F. (2018). Facade (Toronto) [Artwork]. Toronto TTC Subway.

https://www.twentytwentyarts.com/lifeontheline201819

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Trans and non-binary pregnancy, traumatic birth, and perinatal mental health: a scoping review

Women’s experiences of birth trauma: A scoping review

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Barriers and Mitigating Strategies to Healthcare Access in Indigenous Communities of Canada: A Narrative Review

Health and healthcare equity within the Canadian cancer care sector: a rapid scoping review

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Podcast: Equity in Care: Breaking Down Barriers

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Podcast: Equity in Care: Breaking Down Barriers

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Fostering Dialogues Participants. (2023). Imagining Futures of Care [Digital mural]. In VHA Home HealthCare. https://www.vha.ca/news/arts-based-engagement-project-builds-meaningful-connections-between-vha-psws-and-2slgbtqia-older-adults/

Lambert, L. K., Horrill, T. C., Beck, S. M., Bourgeois, A., Browne, A. J., Cheng, S., Howard, A. F., Kaur, J., McKenzie, M., Stajduhar, K. I., & Thorne, S. (2023). Health and healthcare equity within the Canadian cancer care sector: a rapid scoping review. International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01829-2

Nguyen, N. H., Subhan, F. B., Williams, K., & Chan, C. B. (2020). Barriers and Mitigating Strategies to Healthcare Access in Indigenous Communities of Canada: A Narrative Review. Healthcare, 8(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8020112

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Artifact #2 - Why Fathers Should be Present at Birth by Deborah Lewis | TEDxPortofSpain

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Artifact #2 - Why Fathers Should be Present at Birth by Deborah Lewis | TEDxPortofSpain

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The TEDx video by Deborah Lewis highlights the invaluable role that fathers play throughout pregnancy, birth, and their child’s life. Lewis presents compelling statistics demonstrating the significant negative effects paternal absence can have on children’s development, alongside the many benefits of active father involvement. She also sheds light on the often-overlooked emotional and psychological challenges fathers face after childbirth, including anxiety, insecurity, and paternal postpartum depression. She passionately advocates for the greater inclusion of fathers during these crucial stages of life. I found the evidence and perspectives shared in this video to be both insightful and eye-opening. Lewis emphasizes that paternal involvement is not only essential for child development but also a public health priority that promotes holistic well-being for the entire family.

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Why fathers should be present at birth | Debrah Lewis | TEDxPortofSpain

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Fatherhood and high-risk pregnancy: a scoping review

Paternal bonding in pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study in first-time fathers

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ABC News Australia. (2022). Birth trauma’s debilitating impacts on physical and mental health | 7.30. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfqvTTKrTGY

Greenfield, M., & Darwin, Z. (2020). Trans and non-binary pregnancy, traumatic birth, and perinatal mental health: a scoping review. International Journal of Transgender Health, 22(1-2), 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2020.1841057

Watson, K., White, C., Hall, H., & Hewitt, A. (2020). Women’s experiences of Birth trauma: a scoping review. Women and Birth, 34(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.09.016

Winant, C. (2018). My Birth (New York City) [Photographic installation]. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). https://www.moma.org/collection/works/222741

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Podcast: A Father's Role in Pregnancy, Birth & Life with a Newborn

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Podcast: A Father's Role in Pregnancy, Birth & Life with a Newborn

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Jackson, K., Erasmus, E., & Ntobizodwa Mabanga. (2023). Fatherhood and high-risk pregnancy: a scoping review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05422-x

Noor de Waal, Marion, Nykliceki., Victor J.M. Pop, & Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst. (2023). Paternal bonding in pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study in first-time fathers. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 43(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2023.2252890

Pregnant Life. (n.d.). First image of father in delivery room [Photograph]. In 25 powerful photos of dads in the delivery room. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://www.pregnantlife.net/25-powerful-photos-dads-delivery-room

TEDx Talks. (2014). Why fathers should be present at birth | Debrah Lewis | TEDxPortofSpain. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmAyFYjtmok

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Thanks for listening, enjoy your summer :) 

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Thanks for listening, enjoy your summer :) 