May Is Mental Health Awareness Month.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Canada, emphasizing Mental Health Week from May 6th to 12th, 2024. The Canadian Mental Health Association established Mental Health Week in 1951, and each May, they campaign to encourage Canadians to learn and talk about mental health issues. This crusade promotes mental health as an integral part of overall health and well-being for all Canadians, regardless of age, culture, education, or income level.
This year’s Mental Health Week is centred on the healing power of compassion. We all can be compassionate and know that doing so can make an enormous difference. In a world plagued by suffering, this year’s Mental Health Week emphasizes that kindness is equally intrinsic to our humanity. Source
For this month, my blogs are going to focus on mental health. I worked in community mental health for 32 years and have dealt with depression and anxiety for most of my adult life, so this topic is significant to me professionally and personally.
Mental Health is Health
Mental health doesn’t just mean diagnosis and illness. Mental health is a fundamental component of overall health and well-being. It encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Like physical health, mental health exists on a continuum and can change over time depending on numerous factors. You may have moments when you are struggling with depression or anxiety symptoms that you can work through, or these symptoms may become quite debilitating, and you need to seek professional help.
Good physical and mental health is a basic human right and crucial for community and personal well-being and development. Mental health conditions, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, substance use disorders, and trauma, can have severe consequences for a person's life and functioning if left unaddressed.
Seeking help is not easy as many programs, psychiatrists, and therapists have long waiting lists, and some are very costly. The stigma of mental health remains a significant obstacle, with people facing discrimination, isolation, and barriers to employment.
I felt discriminated against during one of my depressive episodes that required a 3-month mental health leave, and this was when I was working for a large community mental health organization. I also felt isolated as not many people reached out like they would have if I were dealing with a physical health issue.
There was a time when I was ashamed about my history of mental health challenges, and now I’m comfortable talking about it. We must tell our stories because it is the only way to knock down the wall of stigma and discrimination. Talking about mental health makes people uncomfortable, which is why we must keep on talking.
How is your Mental Health?
Have you struggled with more than just having a few bad moments or days?
Are you aware that you aren’t yourself?
Have you noticed any changes in your sleep, appetite, and mood?
Do you have friends, family, or a professional you can talk to?
If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. The majority of us have struggled with our mental health at some point.
What to do if you are struggling?
Taking the first step to talk to someone and seek help and support can seem impossible, especially if what you are experiencing has zapped your energy and motivation. This is why it’s so important to talk to loved ones and close friends about what you are dealing with so they can support you and, if necessary, help you reach out for help.
Talk to someone, your family physician or spiritual advisor, and if that doesn’t feel comfortable, reach out to one of the organizations listed below:
ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600. Free and confidential information on mental health, addiction, and gambling services.
BounceBack Ontario: 1-866-345-0224. Free guided self-help program for mild-to-moderate anxiety and depression.
Crisis Helpline: 988
If you are experiencing severe symptoms in which you are contemplating self-harm, please call 911.
There is no health without mental health. Honest awareness about your emotional well-being is the first step, and the second step is knowing that there is hope and that things can and will get better.
In the comments below, let me know about your experiences with mental health.
Be well.
Anita
Resources:
2. Mood Disorder Society of Canada
DISCLAIMER: County Yoga Loft’s website blog information is for general health care information only. All information on the site is provided in good faith. However, it should not replace consultation or advice from a physician or other healthcare practitioners. The use or reliance of any information on this site is solely at your own risk.