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Career and work
Étienne has worked as a host and columnist across Quebec television and radio and has been a longtime contributor to TVA’s Sucré Salé. [1]
Her documentary and factual work includes Les enfants invisibles, T’es belle pour une noire and Et si c’était toi? She published her first book, Maudite folle, in 2009 and has subsequently published additional books. [6][1]
What has been publicly discussed
- Étienne has said that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 14. She made the condition a central subject of her 2009 memoir Maudite folle, publicly discussing her experience at a time when mental illness remained heavily stigmatized. [2]
- Étienne has described severe changes in mood and periods of impulsive behaviour, including spending $40,000 in less than a day and leaving on trips on impulse. She has also spoken publicly about suicidal thoughts. [2]
- Étienne has described periods when she is doing well alongside recurring depressive periods. In 2024, she said that after going a long time without a similar episode, she experienced a difficult period in which she stayed in bed for days and stopped answering most telephone calls. [4]
- Étienne has made mental-health discussion a significant part of her public work. In Les enfants invisibles, she gave a platform to people who grew up with a parent experiencing mental-health difficulties, with the series explicitly aiming to break taboos. [6]
- She has also given presentations to Montreal police officers about her own experience with bipolar disorder and ways of interacting with people experiencing mental-health difficulties. [4]
“Parler des enjeux de santé mentale est véritablement ma mission dans la vie.”
— Varda Étienne [5]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
AMI-télé“Varda Étienne” Professional biography covering her work at MusiquePlus, television and radio career, documentary series, podcasts and books.
Le Journal de Québec“J’aimerais mieux vivre avec un grave handicap” Interview covering her age-14 bipolar diagnosis, impulsive behaviour, suicidal thoughts, medication, therapy and publication of Maudite folle.
TVA Nouvelles“Ça ‘risque de provoquer beaucoup de dépressions’, croit l’animatrice Varda Étienne” Reports Étienne describing her medication use, regular psychoanalysis and encouragement to seek mental-health support.
View all 6 sources
7 Jours“Varda Étienne révèle avoir vécu une période sombre en janvier dernier” Interview covering a recurring depressive period and her presentations to Montreal police about mental health.
7 Jours“Varda Étienne veut sensibiliser le public aux enjeux de santé mentale” Interview about Maudite folle, continuing psychoanalysis and her commitment to public discussion of mental health.
Radio-Canada“Au cœur d’une réalité trop longtemps ignorée : Les enfants invisibles” Official program description covering the documentary series and its aim of giving voice to children of parents experiencing mental-health difficulties.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Varda Étienne and their experiences.