(CMHA)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

MAY 4-10

Mental Health Week asks Canadians to #GetReal

May 7, 2020 | 2:09 PM

The Canadian Mental Health Association wants you to #GETREAL during and beyond its 69th annual Mental Health Week (May 4-10).

Christine Stewart, Executive Director at the CMHA offices in Red Deer, says a lot more people need to accept that it’s okay to not be okay, especially right now as the world grapples with a pandemic.

“I find it very concerning that our numbers are down. We’ve gone out of our way to do things like make sure our crisis counsellor is available until 8 p.m. daily, and that’s because this isn’t a normal thing we’re living through,” she says. “Rather than just stuff it and hope you’ll get through it, I would rather people reach out and work through what they’re feeling before it turns into something unmanageable.”

In April, the agency’s crisis counsellor was in touch with about half the number of clients they helped in January, pre-COVID. All assistance is being offered over the phone.

“When somebody says ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ the acceptable answer is always just ‘fine.’ But the fact is people weren’t prepared for this, so let’s be real with how we’re feeling,” adds Stewart.

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Another local agency aiding with mental health supports is Suicide Information and Education Services, which is run out of the Women’s Outreach Centre.

Dawne Adkins, a certified grief recovery specialist, says their numbers are not down, but people do need to learn to be more self-aware.

“My needs might be different than the next person’s, and often we compare or see things on social media, and that can be to our detriment as far as knowing what’s going to work for you,” she says.

Sleep, eating habits and exercise all play vital roles in helping one maintain positive mental health, Adkins notes.

“Be creative to look at how you can meet those needs,” she says. “We’re finding that more people are reaching out with prevention in mind, so they’re not at a point of thinking about suicide, but they’re calling us to make sure they don’t get there.”

In addition to suicide-related supports, help with domestic violence, therapy, housing concerns and other aids are offered at the Outreach Centre.

According to the CMHA, annually, at least one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness or mental health issue.

Contact the Outreach Centre by calling 403-347-2480 or visit womensoutreach.ca and suicidehelp.ca. For CMHA in Red Deer, dial 403-342-2266 or visit MentalHealthWeek.ca.