Mental Health Awareness Month
1 in 5 suffer from mental illnesses at any given moment, but 5 in 5 of us have mental health. Whether we suffer from a mental illness or not, taking care of our mental health the same way we take care of our physical health is just as important.
Mental Health Awareness Month is an important time to talk openly about the importance of mental health and the role it plays.
This month enables allows us to have discussions about why mental health matters and what we can do about it.
What is Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States and October for Canada and many other countries. This month is about bringing awareness to mental health, illnesses, and the stigma experienced by those with mental illnesses.
It is important to understand that mental illnesses are not always visible, but it is definitely affecting many of us. Mental illnesses are all around us whether we can see it visibly or not.
It is necessary to bring awareness to mental health so we can talk more openly about mental illnesses. Mental health affects everyone, even if you don’t have a mental illness.
Promoting mental health awareness is important to do by bringing attention to this month. By talking openly about mental health, we give others a comfortable environment to talk about their own mental illnesses.
What is Mental Health
Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual can cope with the normal stresses of life and process thoughts and emotions positively.
It includes cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being which affects how we think, feel, and act.
Why Mental Health Matters
Overall health is a complete state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing. All three are interlinked and an impact in one of those states can impact the other two.
“there is no health without mental health”
Most are probably aware that their mental health can affect their social wellbeing. But most don’t realize that having a mental illness can influence your physical health and vice versa.
Individuals with anxiety or depression have a greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer. Learn about the health triangle and how it impacts your overall health.
Take the free self-assessment here and find out which area you are lacking in your overall health.
1 in 5 Canadians will have a mental illness or addiction problem this year. However, 5 in 5 of us have mental health. Mental health is key to our wellbeing.
We need it to wake up in the morning, get ready for school or work, to learn and perform our jobs, take care of our family, socialize, and have fun.
Mental health not only allows us to cope with the problems and challenges we may face in our life, such as stress, but it allows us to live the life we want and to enjoy every minute of it.
It is just as important for those without a mental illness to take care of their mental health as someone with a mental illness. Pay attention to signs of stress, your emotions, mental wellbeing, and any physical symptoms.
Mental illnesses come in all forms where people can experience vastly different symptoms and levels of severity. You can identify your symptoms with this awareness worksheet.
Who is Affected by Mental Health
Mental illness is all around us whether we see it or not. Mental illnesses will indirectly affect all Canadians, either through family, friends, or colleagues.
1 in 3 people in their lifetime will experience a mental illness. Mental illnesses do not discriminate against age, race, or gender. Everyone has mental health, therefore, everyone is at risk of being affected by mental illness.
Some will be more at risk due to their environment, living conditions, quality of life, or even genetics and biology.
Individuals with a long-term medical condition are more likely to also experience a mental illness and vice-versa
Canadians with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use problem
86% of homeless people have a mental illness or substance use problem
20% of Canadian youths will experience a mental illness
Only 1 in 5 of those youths who need mental health services will actually receive it
By the age of 40, the number of people who will experience a mental illness goes up to 1 in 2
Access to Mental Health Services
Only 14% of individuals with a mental illness seek mental health services
Wait times for counseling and therapy can be long, especially for children and youth. Wait times of six months to one year are common.
Costs to Society
Mental illnesses are estimated to cost the Canadian economy an average of $42 billion per year
In any given week, at least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems
~355,000 disability cases due to mental and/or behavioral disorders
~175,000 full-time workers absent from work due to mental illness
The cost of a disability leave for a mental illness is about double the cost of a leave due to a physical illness
Mental Health Awareness Infographic
If you would like to bring awareness, feel free to share this mental health awareness infographic to your social media for friends and family.
Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic
This year we are experiencing something unprecedented. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of stress and anxiety.
Those with mental health needs may have difficulty seeking the resources they require during the pandemic. The need for mental health services has never been more important.
There have been many studies completed and the impact is taking a toll on Canadians:
High levels of depression increased from 7% of Canadians to 16% today and could be 22% in the next couple of months
52% of Canadians diagnosed with mood disorders were accessing mental health supports before COVID-19, now only 42% are accessing supports today
43% of healthcare workers experience high levels of anxiety compared to 14% before
24% of Canadians working from home indicate that has negatively impacted their mental health
Unfortunately, this only paints a small picture of a bigger problem. Therefore, we must take care of our mental health today. You can practice mental health self-care while in isolation at home.
Mental Illness & Substance Use Recovery
Four factors play a role to help people recover from a mental illness or substance abuse:
Extra-Therapeutic Factors
Relationship Factors
Models & Techniques
Hope & Expectancy
Extra-therapeutic factors contribute the most to recovery, followed by relationship factors. Having a support group and a healthy relationship with those around can significantly help towards the recovery of a mental illness.
Extra-Therapeutic Factors
This includes other components of someone’s life or environment outside of therapy that can contribute to recovery or affect change. Some examples include faith, supportive family members, community involvement, or a job.
Relationship Factors
The relationship with your psychiatrist, therapist, or counselor can contribute to a successful recovery. The warmth, empathy, encouragement, and acceptance between your relationship is a key part of the recovery process.
Models & Techniques
Models & Techniques are the therapeutic methods, strategies, or tactics implemented by the psychiatrist, therapist, or counselor to enable you to take some action to improve yourself or your situation.
Hope & Expectancy
A person’s hope and expectation they will improve can come from their support and relationships they have which can contribute to their recovery.
What You Can Do to Maintain Your Mental Health
Maintaining your mental health and help reduce the likelihood of a downward spiral occurring. Even if you don’t have a mental illness, maintaining your mental health is an important part of having a healthy lifestyle.
Build a Healthy Self-Esteem
Identify your skills and abilities and what strengths you have
Identify what you have difficulty with or makes you feel frustrated
Build confidence by working on weaker areas and reminding ourselves of the things we’re good at and proud of doing
Build Positive Support Networks
Make time for important people in your life
Make time for having fun and enjoying others company
Make time for having serious conversations and to connect
Get Involved in the Community
Reach out in your community and be a volunteer
Serve on a committee or board of your favorite charity
Simply help a neighbor
Recognize Your Thoughts and Emotions
Identify and deal with negative thoughts and emotions
Identify what can calm you down and what can lift you up
Process thoughts and emotions by journaling or talking about it
All these tips are great, but there is one single thing that can help promote your mental health more than anything else. That is talking about or sharing your struggles with someone you can talk to.
Talking about your experience will allow you to process what is going on and allows others to understand and support you. Learn how to share your mental illness such as explaining anxiety to someone who doesn’t have it.
Mental Health Stigma Awareness
Stigma occurs when someone views a mental health condition or mental illness negatively. They distinguish characteristics or personal traits as a judgmental way which can lead to discrimination.
Breaking the stigma of mental health is important for preventing people from feeling unwanted or shamed. There are many ways you can help end the stigma around mental health.
What is Mental Health Stigma
Negative attitudes (prejudice) and negative responses (discrimination) can make a person feel unwanted and shamed (stigmatized). This is known as the Stigma Equation:
How Does Stigma Affect Mental Health
Stigma and discrimination in mental health is the main reason Canadians with mental illnesses don’t seek mental health services. Stigma prevents 40% of people with depression or anxiety from seeking medical help.
Negative effects of stigma on mental health can impact:
The wellbeing of those who experience stigma
Individuals while they are experiencing a mental illness, while they are healing and even long after they no longer have the mental illness
How people feel about themselves and the way they see others
Mental Health Labels
Using labels can contribute to stigma and the negative stereotypes associated with them. When labels are used to stigmatize people, it can lead to discrimination and exclusion. Don’t use labels such as:
The Consequence of Mental Health Stigma
Only 50% of Canadians would tell friends or coworkers that they have a family member with a mental illness, compared to:
72% who would talk about a diagnosis of cancer, or
68% who would talk about a family member having diabetes
In addition:
46% of Canadians thought people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behavior
42% of Canadians were unsure whether they would socialize with a friend who has a mental illness
55% of Canadians said they would be unlikely to enter a spousal relationship with someone who has a mental illness
Reducing Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination
Educate yourself about mental illnesses and educate others around you; pass on facts, positive attitudes, challenge myths and stereotypes
Be aware of how mental illnesses affect people’s attitudes and behavior
Choose carefully how you speak to a person with a mental illness, offer support and encouragement, focus on the positives
Don’t use labels for people with mental illnesses or addiction problems
Talk openly about mental health or illnesses
Include everyone, it’s against the law to deny jobs or services to anyone with a mental health issue
Take a course about mental health stigma here
Mental Health Stigma Infographic
Download a free printable copy of the Mental Health Stigma Infographic to share with others and help end the stigma around mental illnesses.
What You Can Do to Maintain Your Mental Health
Here are three simple steps to spread awareness and take care of your own mental health:
Spread Awareness of Mental Health
Educate yourself, spread facts, and challenge myths
Talk openly about mental health and illnesses
Support any friends or family whether they have a mental illness or not
Practice Self-Care
Build resilience and healthy self-esteem
Build a positive support network
Get involved in the community
Recognize your thoughts and emotions
End the Stigma
Educate yourself, spread positivity, and challenge stereotypes
Beware of how mental illnesses affect people’s attitude and behavior
Choose carefully how you speak to someone with a mental illness
Avoid the use of labels
Include everyone and avoid discrimination
You can start by sharing the infographics on your social media to help bring awareness to mental health.