Mental Illness Awareness Week

By Alma Barranco-Mendoza Ph.D.

The week of October 4 to 10 is Mental Illness Awareness Week in Canada.

The week was established by the Canadian Psychiatric Association in 1992 with the objective to raise awareness about the thousands of lives in Canada affected every day by mental illnesses and to eliminate the stigma associated with their treatment. 1 in 5 (6.7 million) Canadians suffer from a mental illness each year ª. The economic cost of mental health problems $51 billion, out of which $20 billion stem from the workplace ª. The goal is to help our society see mental health treatment as a normal part of everyone's overall health and wellness management.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Mental Health day every year on October 10. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact in our every day lives and in most people's mental health. To recognize this, the WHO has determined the impact of COVID-19 as this year's theme, recognizing the drastic change that has come to our daily lives because of it.

If you or a loved one has been feeling affected by this pandemic, here are some helpful links:

• Wellness Together Canada : 24/7 access for Canadians anywhere in the world. Online assessment and connection to mental health resources and individual counselling by phone, text, and video

• Essential Fatty Acids and Mental Health : MentalHelp.net Article

• Diet and Mental Health : Article

• Mental health and wellness in First Nations and Inuit communities : 24/7 hotline and online chat and connection to suicide prevention and mental health resources.

• The emerging link between food and mental health : Article

• COVID-19: Resources to build our children’s resilience : Articles and resources

• COVID-19 Youth Mental Health - A Hub of Free Resources : Articles and resources

• Youth Mental Health Canada - Supporting Your Mental Health : Articles and resources

• School Mental Health Ontario : Find evidence-based information and resources relevant to your role as students, educators, parents and families, school and system leaders, mental health professionals and other school roles. Resources for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention.

• Dietary Fatty Acids Essential for Mental Health : Psychiatric Times Article

Mental Health by the Numbers. Source: Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH)

Sources:

a. Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) 2020 partnership kit. https://www.camimh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CAMIMHPartnershipKit2020-1.pdf