The pandemic has caused intense stress and disruption for all people in Canada, and is causing pronounced mental health concerns, including suicidal thoughts and feelings, in various subgroups of the population, including parents, those with existing mental illness or mental health issues, Indigenous people and those with a disability or who identify as LGBTQ+. This […]Continue readingCOVID-19 effects on the mental health of vulnerable populations
Going it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs
It is often said that small business is the backbone of the Canadian economy and that when entrepreneurs succeed, so does Canada. Considering the importance of small and medium-sized businesses to the Canadian economy, the health and well-being of entrepreneurs is a critical public health issue. The study, “Going it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs,” aims […]Continue readingGoing it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs
Cohesive, Collaborative, Collective: Advancing Mental Health Promotion in Canada
To mark its 68th annual Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) calls for a national mental health promotion strategy to help shore up Canadians’ mental health in the face of rising rates of mental illness worldwide. To be effective, the national mental health promotion […]Continue readingCohesive, Collaborative, Collective: Advancing Mental Health Promotion in Canada
Understanding Substance Use
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