This is the depression issue of Venus, a magazine created by articulate young women in their teens (including my little sister Julia!) who want to vent or share information about life experiences and be in control of their own publication. It’s full of surprises – from clinical descriptions of disorders, to ways to help when you’re feeling blue, to honest poetry about the scrubbed out way you feel inside when you’re depressed. These lovely little ladies give useful suggestions for coping strategies and aren’t afraid to tackle tough topics like the way you feel late at night when you have a panic attack and can’t sleep. But the Venus crew’s not all serious – there are lots of images, a silly list of depressing things to avoid, and someone had fun with the layout. Keep on writing, girls! Next issue is rumoured to be the gender issue– (Emily Pohl-Weary)
zine, free, #19, St Stephen’s Community Centre, 91 Bellevue Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2N8