Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. The week was established by the Canadian Psychiatric Association and is now coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. The campaign focuses on the key message that, there is no health without mental health.
Statistically, 1/5 Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. Mental illness also indirectly affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience or that of a family member, friend or colleague.
‘Mental health’ refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feeling and deal with difficulties. The presence or absence of a mental illness is not a predictor of mental health; someone without a mental illness could have poor mental health, just as someone with a mental illness could have excellent mental health. Anyone can experience mental or emotional health problems – and over a lifetime, many of us will.
Here are some wellness tips:
- Understanding the characteristics that make up good mental health will help you determine how mentally fit you are. Check in your mental health using this tool from the Canadian Mental Health Association.
- Appeal to your senses. Does listening to an uplifting song make you feel calm? Does squeezing a stress ball make you feel centered? What about taking a walk in nature and enjoying the sights and sounds of the trees? Everyone responds to sensory input differently, so experiment and find what works best for you.
- Stay active. Incorporating physical activity and movement into your day is just as good for your brain as it is for your body. Regular exercise or activity can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health, relieve stress, improve memory and help you sleep better.
- Get support when you need it. If you or a loved one needs support, there are many programs and resources that are available to you. All employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-387-4765