Wed 21 Jan 2026
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay – Dr Véronique Anctil on Student Mental Health
What if struggling in college doesn’t mean you’re weak — but human?
In this episode of Caffeine & Coping Podcast, we sit down with Dr Véronique Anctil, a psychiatrist working both in hospitals and on university campuses, to have an honest conversation about student mental health.
Dr Anctil shares what she sees daily in her clinical work with students: anxiety, academic pressure, ADHD, fear of failure, isolation, and the constant pressure to perform — academically, socially, and athletically. Together, we explore when stress is a normal part of student life, when it becomes a signal to seek help, and why asking for support early can make a real difference.
The conversation also addresses common myths around mental health medication, ADHD, and the idea that students should always “have it together.” Dr Anctil explains why medication can be a useful tool (not an identity), why diagnoses don’t define who you are, and why it’s okay to fail, pause, or change direction.
We also dive into the unique challenges faced by student-athletes, including performance pressure, injuries, identity loss, and the mental health impact of transitions out of competitive sports.
This episode is a reminder that you’re not broken, that not okay is normal, and that help is not a failure — it’s part of growth.
In this episode of Caffeine & Coping Podcast, we sit down with Dr Véronique Anctil, a psychiatrist working both in hospitals and on university campuses, to have an honest conversation about student mental health.
Dr Anctil shares what she sees daily in her clinical work with students: anxiety, academic pressure, ADHD, fear of failure, isolation, and the constant pressure to perform — academically, socially, and athletically. Together, we explore when stress is a normal part of student life, when it becomes a signal to seek help, and why asking for support early can make a real difference.
The conversation also addresses common myths around mental health medication, ADHD, and the idea that students should always “have it together.” Dr Anctil explains why medication can be a useful tool (not an identity), why diagnoses don’t define who you are, and why it’s okay to fail, pause, or change direction.
We also dive into the unique challenges faced by student-athletes, including performance pressure, injuries, identity loss, and the mental health impact of transitions out of competitive sports.
This episode is a reminder that you’re not broken, that not okay is normal, and that help is not a failure — it’s part of growth.
