#GETLOUD in Waterloo Wellington for CMHA’s Mental Health Week

One in five Canadians will experience mental health problems or mental illness in any given year.

This Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association is calling on Canadians to #GETLOUD and raise awareness about the importance of addressing our mental health.

To #GETLOUD means speaking out against the discrimination and stigma directed at people with mental illnesses. It means taking action and using your voice to raise awareness and build support for those around you and for yourself.

Every year, CMHA selects a specific mental health-related issue to focus on during CMHA Mental Health Week. This year, as part of our Sick of Waiting: Get Loud for Mental Health campaign, we are paying special attention to long waits – the long wait to see a mental health professional, and the long wait for improvements to the mental health system of Canada.

During CMHA Mental Health Week, we also encourage all Canadians to reflect on their own attitudes towards mental health. Reducing discrimination and stigma is paramount, so that people no longer feel shame due to a mental illness and will no longer wait to seek the support and help they need.

At CMHA, we’re proud to be the organization that started this tradition, and we’re proud that Canadians have embraced it.

Five ways to #GETLOUD:

1. Speak up with loved ones.

Talk openly to someone you feel safe with: a loved one or a friend. If they’re informed and supportive, they won’t judge or shame you about your mental health concerns. They may even have their own concerns, and you’d be opening a dialogue. Offer to listen without judgment, and to do what you can to help.

2. If you need help, ask for it.

Contact your family doctor. Tell them if you need support. Tell them if you need services. Contact CMHA WW through our Here 24/7 portal. If you’re in crisis, don’t wait. Go to your hospital emergency department or call 911.

3. Speak out for mental health supports and services.

#GETLOUD with your elected representatives. Tell them we need increased mental health funding for more – and better – mental health programs and services. Governments at every level need to hear that mental health is a top health priority for all Canadians.

4. Build a healthier workplace.

You can promote mental health where you work. One place to start is to book a CMHA workshop that provides education and addresses mental health in the workplace. Contact CMHA’s Workforce Mental Health Collaborative for more information on workforce psychological health and safety training, resources or support.

5. Get involved.

Organize and host an event to raise awareness and funds to support CMHA’s mission. Submit your event at mentalhealthweek.ca. Use social media to promote CMHA Mental Health Week. Sign up for our Ride Don’t Hide event — this week, we are offering $5 off registration with the promo code GETLOUDRDH. Or, make a donation of any size to CMHA. We will use these funds to #GETLOUD on your behalf, for better mental health for all Canadians.

Fast Facts:

• One in five Canadians will experience mental health problems or mental illness in any given year.
• 70 percent of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.
• The burden of mental illnesses and addictions in Ontario is more than 1.5 times the burden of all cancers, and seven times the burden of all infectious diseases.