Mental health in a COVID world vital to keep tabs on: CMHA

That number ballooned to 41.1 per cent by January 2021.

“We live in a workaholic society where people call you lazy if you suggest you need to do certain things to take care of yourself. If that’s what you need, you should do it. We have to change the narrative to cheering for people to take care of themselves,” says Stewart on the idea of being a little more selfish, but in a positive fashion.

“If you’re a nurturer, this pandemic has perhaps hit you the hardest. If you or someone is isolating, that role becomes more difficult in terms of making those usual connections. So use that time to take care of yourself, and then you can provide service to others.”

This applies to social media too, where it can be both hard to discern which information you should be taking in, and how what you’re taking in is affecting you.

“You have to monitor your own stress levels and how you’re being affected,” she says. “Be vigilant and self-aware of how you’re responding to social media.”

CMHA in Red Deer has added programming over the course of the pandemic, with some courses designed to teach tools for dealing with COVID-specific stressors.

Attendance was up in the pandemic’s first year, Stewart says, though Zoom fatigue has become a factor in numbers dropping recently.

No matter which side of the COVID fence you’re on, however, there’s anxiety and stress, and that’s where CMHA is keeping the conversation going every day of the year.

“As we know very well, mental health can take more of a priority on some days compared to others. During the pandemic, it’s been a huge topic of conversation, but I do worry that when the pandemic is over, people will feel like things are going back to normal, and they’ll stop talking about mental wellness,” says Stewart.

“We know the implications of anxiety, depression and stress will carry on for years. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is also a real thing that can result from such a large-scale event in our community, so I’m continually reminding people that although some day this will end, please don’t stop talking about mental health.”

In the most recent quarter, more than 400 people took CMHA education courses in Red Deer, with the crisis counsellor assisting another 350 in 2021. The organization’s systems navigator helped 45 people in December 2021 alone.

“It’s also so important to eliminate the negative stigma around mental health in workplaces. It helps to just know you can talk to your employer. Plus, the social return on investment, that is to say if you give a little bit more time off to have a happy and well-balanced employee, is huge,” Stewart adds.

“It is a small price to pay for staff that are quality, and it’s much more costly to lose staff and rehire than investing in the people you already have. We encourage employers to keep that in mind.

“It’s not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength to be able to say ‘This is what I’m going through’ and what I need to be healthy and well. That should be respected and encouraged.”

Looking for mental health resources in Red Deer? Try the following:

*If you’re in danger now, call 9-1-1.

Suicide Distress Line for the 403 area code
Phone: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)

Canadian Mental Health Association
Phone: 403-342-2266
Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322

49th Street Addiction and Mental Health Services
Phone: 403-340-5466

Family Services of Central Alberta
Phone: 403-343-6400

Red Deer Outreach Centre/Suicide Information & Education Services
Phone: 403-342-4966

Native Youth Crisis Hotline
Phone: 1-877-209-1266

Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter
Phone: 1-888-346-5643

Kid’s Help Phone
Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Primary Care Network
Phone: 403-343-9100

Shalom Counselling Centre
Phone: 403-342-0339

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Mental health in a COVID world vital to keep tabs on: CMHA

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