Why Mental Illness Awareness Week?
Do we really need to make people aware of mental illness? For too long, people with mental illnesses have been in the shadows. Too few know about the burden of mental illness on our society, and too few sufferers seek help when they need it. Ignoring the problem does not make it better – it actually makes it worse for those suffering, and ultimately it throws a shadow over society’s ability to take care of its own.
Mental Illness Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness of the level of mental illness; to reduce negative stigma about mental illness amongst the general population and health care professionals; to promote the positive effects of best practice in prevention, diagnosis and medical treatment; and to better inform and educate us about the issues surrounding mental illnesses.
The theme is "Face Mental Illness" - and it represents many important issues. First and foremost, it puts a human face on mental illness by featuring the stories of people living with mental illness. It also represents the incredibly wide spectrum of those touched by mental illness - families, researchers, teachers and all manner of practitioners including physicians, psychiatric nurses, counsellors, and psychologists. Moreover, it encourages all of us - including our governments - to face and address the issues.
The Imagine Run, just held in Niverville MB (Saturday September 24), does just that – puts a human face to the problem. When a runner proudly displays a sign “Survivor of Depression”, it encourages others to step forward from the shadows. If it encourages just one more person to get help, it is worth it!
One in five Canadians will experience mental illness during his/her lifetime. It's crucial that we educate Canadians about the nature of mental illness and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. You don't have to wait until it effects you or your loved ones before you get involved.
A number of myths have led to misunderstandings about mental illness, preventing many people from seeking and getting help when they need it. The wrong understanding of the use of medication for mental illness, and the (societal/church/family/individual) resistance to taking medication, is one of the ‘myths’ that will be cleared up at the Paraklesis Counselling “Gos-Pill Truth about Prozac and You” seminar. Questions about anxiety, depression, counselling, and medication will be answered by looking at the history of mental illness. People suffering from mental illness and those supporting them will gain an understanding how antidepressants work, when medication is indicated and when not, why compliance is important, when you can stop taking the medication, how to deal with the side effects, and how relapse can be prevented.
All of us can make a difference for the nearly 6 million Canadians affected by mental illnesses – you can be a change mediator in your immediate circle – you can influence and change perceptions!
Mental Illness Awareness Week brings us some fundamental messages:
- Reach out. Don't be afraid to ask for help or to ask how you can help. This is a message for the family as well as for the person who is suffering alone and for all of us who know someone in trouble
- Get help early. Early intervention and treatment reduce long-term disability from mental illness
- Hang in there. Be compliant with treatment plans – keep on track by continuing counselling (don’t stop or change treatment without consulting with a mental health professional)
- Talk about it (especially to a mental health care worker/counsellor/therapist)
- Share your stories to help others understand (don’t be put off by their apathy or ‘rejection’)
- Share the care. Treatment and support of people with mental illness involve many types of caregivers; each has an important role to play - you can make a difference for others
- Respect differences. People with mental illnesses and their families are as diverse as the general population. Don't generalize and be respectful
- Stay hope-focused. While there are few total “cures” for severe mental illnesses, improved treatments and community-support offer increased hope for recovery from its symptoms and a better quality of life.
