Mental Health affects everyone?
Does mental health affect everyone? Absolutely, either directly or indirectly. We all pay taxes, work and live. In some situations we are living with depression or someone we know is dealing with depression. This is why the ‘Let’s talk’ and other campaigns are important for those who suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and to know they are not alone, to give support for their family, and encouragement for the people who continue to live in the darkness of depression. From my own experience and as a result of years of workplace bullying, dealing with depression I realized how it slowly takes ahold of your soul and you feel helpless and hopeless. It was a cold hard truth that help was needed! Looking back from today, I will never forget that terrifying moment standing on the edge of the abyss. Thankfully I am still here. Sadly, not everyone gets that sober second thought.
Speaking up and asking for help is part of the journey back to life.
Too many Canadians remain silent with their pain of depression. By having the conversation about mental health and depression this removes the stigma and perhaps encourages those who need help to ask for it. Depression affects our mind and also our body with fatigue, low concentration, aches and pains and other health issues.
Directly or indirectly we all are affected by the mental health crisis. The Government of Canada report on the psychological well being and mental health indicates several reasons for mental health concerns are in the workplace.
“Psychological health is a continuum that everyone experiences and is affected by. Having good psychological health is crucial to achieving overall health and well-being. The work environment is one of many settings that have an impact on psychological health. Given that an average Canadian worker spends 30-40 hours per week at work, it is important to maintain a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. The Mental Health Commission of Canada found that in any given week, 500,000 Canadians do not go to work due to a psychological health issue. Some causes of poor psychological health are directly attributable to factors in the workplace, including, for instance, harassment or excessive workload. A wide body of evidence suggests that poor workplace psychological health negatively affects performance at both the individual and organizational level. Among other outcomes, improving workplace psychological health can boost employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity; it can also reduce health costs, employee turnover, and lost work time.”
You are not alone.
From LETS TALK campaign
“In September 2010, Bell Let’s Talk began a new conversation about Canada’s mental health. At that time, most people were not talking about mental illness. But the numbers spoke volumes about the urgent need for action. Millions of Canadians, including leading personalities engaged in an open discussion about mental illness, offering new ideas and hope for those who struggle, with numbers growing every year.”
https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/bell-lets-talk-day
If no one says anything then nothing changes, ‘Let’s Talk’,
lets keep the conversation going and change the perception of depression and mental health. Lets talk about reclaiming our lives, finding our voices to improved mental health and the journey to happiness. Anyone can suffer from depression and we can help with kindness, being non judgmental, listening, showing compassion and patience we can make it!