Mental Health Awareness and Resources

 

Fast Facts about Mental Illness

Who is affected?

  • Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend, or colleague.
  • In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
  • Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures.
  • Approximately 8 percent of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.

How common is it?

  • Anxiety disorders affect 5 percent of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
  • Suicide accounts for 24 percent of all deaths among 15 – 24-year-olds and 16 percent among 25 – 44-year-olds.
  • Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.
  • The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.

What causes it?

  • A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality, and environmental factors causes mental illnesses.
  • Almost one-half (49 percent) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.
  • Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.
  • Mental illnesses can be treated effectively.

Self-Help Resources:

Looking After Yourself
Mental Health of Canadians During COVID-19 Pandemic

Mental Health Modules

No one has perfect mental health all the time, but ongoing problems can take a real toll on our well-being.

Wellness Module

We all find ourselves coping with troubling thoughts from time to time — especially when we are going through changes in our lives or when we feel depressed, anxious, sad, angry, or stressed out.

Healthy Thinking Module

Everyone feels angry from time to time. How you experience and express your anger may be influenced by many factors, like gender, culture, or religion.

Anger Management Module

Social support is the physical and emotional comfort given to you by your family, friends, co-workers, and others. It is knowing that you are part of a community of people who love and care for you, value you and think well of you.

Social Support Module