Mental Health for All

Written by Audrey Roy on 03/05/11

Photo by Visual Invasion on Flickr

Recently, I was browsing on the Internet and I stumbled across an article about Demi Lovato (the main character in Disney’s Camp Rock and Joe Jonas’s former girlfriend). She opened up about the three months she spent in rehab receiving emotional and physical support following an altercation with one of her back-up dancers. The 18 year old singer/actress also discussed being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her life-long struggle with mental illness. Having already battled an eating disorder, depression and self-injury, she hopes that speaking out about her experiences will help other youth who may be facing mental health issues.

People of all ages can suffer from mental health issues. According to Canadian statistics, 5% of young males and 12% of young females have experienced a major depressive disorder. More shockingly, suicide is the second main cause of death in youth between the ages of 15 and 24 (Canadian Mental Health Association).

From May 1st to the 7th, Canada is celebrating its 60th annual Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is “Mental Health for all” and it emphasizes that mental health is everyone’s concern. One way to make sure that mental health is everyone’s concern is by eliminating the negative stigma attached to mental health – by following Demi’s lead and talking about it.

The reality is that we all have “good days” and “bad days”, and the ways we are able to deal with a “bad day” plays a big part in our mental health. Here are some activities suggested by the Canadian Mental Health Association to practice mental fitness:

Learn ways to cope with negative thoughts: Negative thoughts can’t be eliminated but there is a way for you to not focus on them. The key is to not let them take over you.
Take on a positive attitude: Don’t dwell on the negative, notice and recognize the good things in your life.
Exercise: Physical activity produces endorphins, which is a hormone that creates a sense of well-being.
Set personal goals: Think of something you would like to achieve. And remember it does not have to be a big and ambitious project! Just think of a goal and set your mind to it.
Ask for help: You are only one person, and it is normal to need help to cope with a difficult situation. Professionals will know how to assist you overcome your difficulties.

Regardless of the gravity of your situation, there are things you can do to cope with the problems you are facing! While coping with day to day challenges is a part of life, it is important to be able to recognize when there may be a bigger issue. Mental health issues that remain untreated can push someone to act out of character and lead to greater problems such as deviant behaviour, self-injury and even suicide.

Remember that you are never alone and that you can find someone to help you through hard times. If you would like more information on mental health, take a look at Teen’s Health and Kids Help Phone, they have awesome fact sheets on the matter.

Links

Canadian Mental Health Association
Teen’s health
Kids Help Phone
DEAL.org – Spotlight on Child and Youth Mental Health
DEAL.org – The Darkest Cloud