Many people think of substance use problems only in terms of addiction, a dependence on alcohol or other drugs where someone needs to continually use the substance in order to feel normal. Substance use is bigger than that. Using substances like alcohol and other drugs can have an impact on mental health, and mental health […]Continue readingUnderstanding Substance Use
Toward Recovery
Recovery from a mental illness is expected. And it’s not necessarily an end point—it can be a process that you work on no matter where you are in (or out of) treatment. For some people, recovery may mean living without any symptoms of a mental illness at all. For others, recovery is about living well […]Continue readingToward Recovery
Talking to Teens About Mental Health
Teens need to know that they can take charge of their well-being, speak up if they start to notice problems, and support others respectfully. Many mental illnesses start during the teen years, yet many teens don’t receive the help they need right away. It doesn’t have to be that way. Working towards good mental health […]Continue readingTalking to Teens About Mental Health
Social Support
We all need to feel like we belong and that others care about our well-being. Social support is exactly that: the belonging and care we receive from other people. Those people—our social support network—can include many different groups of people, including partners, friends, family members, co-workers, neighbours or even professionals like doctors, counsellors, or peer […]Continue readingSocial Support
Mindfulness
Many of us lead busy lives. We are busy thinking about yesterday and busy planning for tomorrow. When we focus on the past and future, we aren’t paying a lot of attention to the present—where we are right now. Mindfulness is simply an invitation to step out of the clutter and really focus on what we are […]Continue readingMindfulness
Psychotherapy
Many people find that the simple act of talking with family and friends can help them see a new perspective, solve a problem, or simply feel supported. Sometimes talking with a friend isn’t enough, and you need more specialized help and support. Psychotherapy is another type of conversation that can help you feel better. WHAT […]Continue readingPsychotherapy
Medications for Mental Illness
The decision to use medication—or any other treatment—is an ongoing conversation between you and your doctor. Since you are the most important part of your treatment plan, your choices and your questions are an important part of that discussion. When you have accurate information about medication and you can see how it might apply to […]Continue readingMedications for Mental Illness
Coping with Lonliness
Loneliness is an experience that means our current close relationships don’t meet our needs. Despite the name, you don’t always have to be alone to feel lonely. Loneliness can come up whenever we feel alone, unwanted, or isolated. Loneliness can come up when: We’re around a lot of people but feel like we don’t quite […]Continue readingCoping with Lonliness
Concurrent Mental Illness and Substance Use Problems
WHAT DO WE MEAN? A concurrent mental illness and substance use problem means that someone experiences a mental illness and, at the same time, uses substances like alcohol or other drugs in ways that could cause harm. Substance use is a problem when it negatively affects a person’s life or the lives of others. Addiction […]Continue readingConcurrent Mental Illness and Substance Use Problems
Over half of Canadians consider anxiety and depression ‘epidemic’
The Canadian Mental Health Association calls for new legislation to bring mental health into balance with physical health. Over half of Canadians (53%) consider anxiety and depression to be ‘epidemic’ in Canada, with that perception spiking amongst younger people, according to a new survey commissioned by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Fifty-nine per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds […]Continue readingOver half of Canadians consider anxiety and depression ‘epidemic’