Whether it’s a return to face-to-face work after the pandemic, anxious kids at school, teachers overwhelmed by behaviors they can’t handle, or a life coach looking to improve, the program caters to all kinds of people and situations. .
More and more people are talking about mental health and it’s important that everyone knows what the signs are and how to help these people.
explains Kim Willis, Director of Communications at Antenne desACSM School.
As the stigma decreases, we see that people suffering from mental health problems are more open to sharing their experiences
She adds.
The Association reports that 15% of Canadians struggle with mental health issues.
A multifaceted program
The program touches on the various problems faced by people suffering from disorders, but also those who help them.
In particular, it makes it possible to reduce stigma, which is one of the main causes of lack of communication, to increase the trust of people who intervene and to offer more solutions to people in need.
According to Ms. Willis, this program is in high demand and has generated a lot of interest over the past two years.
For Annie Marsolais, Chief Marketing Officer at Business Development Bank of Canada, concern for mental health is critical in a professional setting. She points out that her company has mental health support programs that include remote consultations.
It is important to be in an environment where one can discuss and receive support when suffering from one form or another of mental illness
She says.
” The important thing is to keep talking about it. »
dr Donna Ferguson, a psychologist at CAMH in Toronto in the Department of Workplace Mental Health, promotes these types of programs in companies. I think it’s important that everyone is trained to better understand mental health because it makes the work environment more enjoyable
, she emphasizes. In her opinion, the pandemic has damaged the mental health of many people.
Consequences for school education
Sometimes people have accumulated trauma and the fear can become so overwhelming that they are unable to function normally and have to stop working.
Mental problems that she also notices in schools. Social isolation, especially lack of contact with other children, would be one of the main reasons for this trend.
There is an increase in anxiety and depression in schools, which is reflected in grades
She says.
According to Statistics Canada, approximately one million Canadians struggle with negative mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia, substance abuse and other health conditions that limit their daily lives.
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