Regional Optimist
The Battlefords, Thursday, May 10, 2018 - Page 1
www.newsoptimist.ca
Mental HEALTH Because mental health
WEEK
May 7-13, 2018
shouldn’t be kept a secret
GET LOUD AND GET HEARD
As Canada’s population ages, the prevalence of mental health problems rises too. Conditions like bipolar disorder and addiction can seriously affect the quality of life in people of all ages and seniors may be especially vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Mental Health Week takes place this May 7-13, 2018, and the theme Get Loud says it all: it’s time to speak up about how ignorance and discrimination can make mental health unbearable. The best way to combat all the confusion and misunderstanding about mental illness is to talk about it. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the sponsor of the awareness campaign, invites everybody to share their personal stories as a way to rally support for sufferers of dementia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts and other conditions. GET LOUD — YOU CAN DO IT! Why is it so important to speak up about your personal experience or about being the loved one of someone with a mental illness? Getting loud builds awareness and support. It makes sure sufferers know they’re not alone, especially when they feel isolated and afraid of being judged. Mental illness appears in every walk of life; it doesn’t matter if you’re a teen or a senior, or if you’re educated or wealthy. The CMHA reports that 25 per cent of Canadians will have an experience of mental illness at some point in their lives. The louder we get now, the less anguish our friends, coworkers or even ourselves will need to feel about being unwell. During Mental Health Week, get loud with a kind word for a sufferer. Tweet about positive mental health and post your story on your Facebook page.
# Get Loud
You are good at the things that matter to you!
SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES