Mental Illness Awareness week is a public awareness campaign that aims to better inform all of us about the issues surrounding mental illnesses. Our belief is that “There is no health without mental health”, and all of us are touched by mental illness states Ron Saddington, TBRHSC President and CEO.   One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. It’s crucial that we educate ourselves about the nature of mental illness and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. A number of myths have led to misunderstandings about mental illness, preventing many people from seeking and getting help when they need it. All of us can make a difference for the nearly 6 million Canadians affected by mental illnesses.

Mental Illness Awareness Week brings us some fairly fundamental messages:

• First - 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.
   
• Talk about it. Share your stories to help others understand.
   
• Share the care. Treatment and support of persons with mental illness involves many types of caregivers: each has an important role to play.
   
• Hope. While there are not cures for severe mental illnesses, improved treatments and community supports offer increased hope for recovery from its symptoms and a better quality of life.
   
• Finally, respect differences. People with mental illnesses and their families are as diverse as the general population.

Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental illness prevents sufferers from seeking the help they need, impairs recovery, affects the quality and availability of care and needed supports and even takes lives. Stigma also continues to keep mental health low on the health agenda.

Mental illness knows no boundaries: it can affect all people, regardless of age, culture, income and education. We all have a role to play. As an organization we are proud that we have a first class facility which allows us to provide first class mental health services. We applaud the role TBRHSC is taking in providing mental health services to our community. We encourage all staff to take time to attend to their own mental health needs, and the needs of their families.

This week we hope to raise awareness of mental illness, reduce stigma, and help people get connected to help as needed. For additional information, visit TBRHSC Mental Health Services.

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