What is mental illness?
Mental illness refers to a health condition involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior that are associated with distress and impaired functioning.
Who is affected?
In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness.
By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have or have had a mental illness.
People aged 15-24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.
Men have higher rates of substance use disorders than women.
Women have higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders.
Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely to report poor to fair mental health, compared to those in the highest income group.
About 4,000 Canadians per year die by suicide, an average of almost 11 suicides a day. Suicide risk affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
There are many different types of mental illness including: depression, generalized anxiety disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, eating disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders, etc. Furthermore, individuals experience mental illness differently. Their symptoms, intensity of symptoms, and functional impairment from the illness is unique.
By learning more about the experiences of individuals with mental illness, we can spread awareness and show support for people who struggle with their mental health. Remember taking care of yourself and acknowledging when you need help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
How to get help?
One option is Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP). I have completed a 3-year certification program in this modality of psychotherapy as I believe it is very effective for helping with mental illness. IBP combines somatic therapy with psychotherapy to create a holistic approach that integrates the body, mind, and emotions. It focuses on getting to the root cause of the emotional pain and aims to resolve it once and for all.
IBP works by helping individuals develop a deeper awareness of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours, and integrate these aspects of themselves in a healthy way. The underlying theory of IBP is that psychological issues are often established in early life experiences that are stored in the body as unresolved traumas. These traumas create patterns of tension, pain, and emotional reactivity, which then lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health illnesses. IBP helps to create an understanding of unconscious themes and patterns that interrupt wellbeing, and helps you to become more resilient.
Other options for getting help with mental health illnesses are:
Help Starts Here
· This government sponsored website contains the services and resources that can help people with mental illness in BC
· The site has over 2,600 service listings publicly-funded or not-for-profit mental health and substance use supports and many articles and information on many commonly searched topics
· Accessible at https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/
Mental Health Support Line
· 310-6789 (no area code needed)
Reference:
Pearson, Janz & Ali (2013). Health at a glance: Mental and substance use disorders in Canada. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-624-X.
Mawani & Gilmour (2010). Validation of self-rated mental health. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003-X.
Smetanin et al. (2011). The life and economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011-2041. Prepared for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Toronto: RiskAnalytica.
Statistics Canada (2020). Deaths and age-specific mortality rates, by selected grouped causes. Table 13-10-0392-01.
Government of Canada. (2022). Debunking misconceptions during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2022/09/debunking-misconceptions-mental-illness-awareness-week.html
Statistics Canada. (2023). Raising awareness - mental health in Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/4666-raising-awareness-mental-health-canada
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