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MHCC champions a variety of suicide pre- and postvention resources
The way our country thinks about, talks about, and prevents suicide has evolved considerably over the past several years. A crucial part of that shift is due to improved reporting practices, something largely credited to a guide written by and for Canadian journalists, Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health (Mindset).
“Since its debut in 2014, Mindset has become the leading resource of its kind in Canada,” said Louise Bradley, the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC’s) president and CEO. “There is no doubt that the media is a key player in raising awareness and shaping public opinion about mental illness, a fact that underscores the importance of responsible and informed reporting.”
Update to a key media resource
Late last year, the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, with support from the MHCC and CBC News, released the third edition of Mindset. Among its key additions is an extensive update to the chapter on suicide reporting, meant to help journalists explore the topic in a more robust way without causing undue harm.
“What we’ve seen in recent years has been the flourishing of incisive, enterprising, and award-winning longer-form journalism that has taken the discussion of suicide much deeper, to considerable public benefit,” said Cliff Lonsdale, who led the editorial team responsible for the guide’s content. “But the journalists doing that work often had little relevant guidance to help them choose ethical approaches for the different kinds of stories they were telling.”
The revised suicide chapter includes recommendations to help journalists go beyond reporting individual incidents and dig deeper into causes, higher-risk populations, policy shortcomings, and protective factors — while emphasizing the importance of context and independent judgment.
The power of language
The guide also reinforces the media’s power to shape the public lexicon by using non-stigmatizing language. For example, journalists (along with the rest of us) should opt for “died by suicide” as opposed to “committed suicide,” which attributes a value judgment to the act and suggests moral or legal wrongdoing.
“Writing about mental illness in all its richness, and with all its challenges, need not cause stigma,” notes Globe and Mail health columnist André Picard in his foreword to the guide. “Rather, it provides us with a rare chance to bring about meaningful social change alongside a golden opportunity to better journalism.”
Delve deeper into the materials covered in the guide, with resources that include case studies and video clips, at the Mindset website.
MHCC resources for those affected by suicide
While thoughtful media coverage may spell a sea change in our collective understanding, those who’ve been affected by suicide need specialized resources. Together with our partners, the MHCC has developed two toolkits that offer practical support a little closer to home.
One is for people who have been affected by a suicide attempt; the other, for people who have lost someone to suicide. Both toolkits include coping and support strategies, crisis planning, tips on sharing your story, and messages of hope.
At the school or community level, it can be hard to know what actions to take following a death by suicide (also called “postvention”). The Postvention Program: Being Prepared to Act in the Event of a Suicide webinar was developed to help communities prepare for and navigate that difficult period.
On top of its toolkits and webinars, the MHCC was a proud collaborator on a series of suicide fact sheets related to bullying, injury prevention, trauma-informed care, older adults, sexual minorities, and transgender people. Along with general information, the documents include key statistics, practical tips, and additional resources.
See the complete list of MHCC resources on our suicide prevention page.
For Bradley, we all have a role to play in preventing suicide: “The more we illuminate the darkest corners of stigma — be it through responsible media coverage or public education — the more lives we can save.”
Amber St. Louis
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For caregivers, finding the right balance is key
The holiday season is synonymous with giving. Many of us dedicate our time and attention to causes close to our hearts and to people in need of support. For unpaid or family caregivers, though, giving is more than a seasonal gesture of goodwill. And this year, as the rest of us prepare for a more subdued holiday season under the shadow of COVID-19, these caregivers must find a way to strike a balance between caring for their loved ones and giving back to themselves.
“We know that many caregivers experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety,” said Louise Bradley, the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC’s) president and CEO. “Now that the pandemic has upended our routines and altered our best-laid plans, it’s more important than ever for caregivers to re-assess what’s working, and not let their own mental health fall by the wayside.”
Denise Waligora, an MHCC Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and delivery specialist, understands this balancing act all too well. “Both my mom and dad have serious physical conditions, and my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year,” she explained. “I’m fortunate to be able to work remotely while caring for them, but leaving time for myself hasn’t been easy.”
One of the biggest challenges, she said, is learning to set boundaries. “One evening my mom started listing all the things she wanted us to do after dinner, and I finally had to speak up. I reminded her that after long days filled with appointments and obligations, I needed some downtime in the evenings. As caregivers, we have to recognize when it’s getting to be too much and learn that saying ‘no, not right now’ is OK.”
To Waligora, carving out downtime is an important act of self-care. “Even if it’s limited,” she said, “take whatever time that’s there and don’t feel guilty about it. We all need time to recharge.”
While caregivers of all kinds face similar challenges, those caring for older adults know that supporting their loved one’s mental health can often be more difficult than meeting their physical needs. Fortunately for Waligora, being a facilitator for the MHFA Seniors course has helped her bridge the generational divide.
“I don’t think my parents have ever been told it’s ok to feel the way they do,” she explained. “The course has taught me the importance of validating their fears. It’s also improved my communication skills with my parents and opened conversations that may not have happened previously.”
To help others facing similar communication barriers, Waligora contributed some special insights to the MHCC’s Caring for Older Adults During COVID-19 tip sheet, which offers practical advice to support the mental health of older loved ones.
Equally important is communication from the caregivers themselves. Caregiving can be an isolating job, especially during a global pandemic when social gatherings have all but disappeared. But as Waligora points out, maintaining social connection is invaluable to caregivers. “Never be afraid to reach out to your support system,” she said. “You don’t always have to be the ‘strong’ one — It’s OK to ask for help.”
Bradley agrees. “Caregivers are prone to putting their own mental wellness last,” she said. “But no one can pour from an empty cup. Caring for yourself, whatever form that takes, will help you be a healthier, more effective caregiver.”
To learn more about implementing self-care into your life, read the Mental Health First Aid COVID-19 Self-Care and Resilience Guide. “Caring for a loved one is noble, valuable work,” said Bradley, “but giving yourself the gift of self-care is priceless.”
Amber St. Louis
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Give back, or reach out
While Dr. Keith Dobson doesn’t have a miracle cure for the holiday blues, he’s got a prescription for improving our outlook: We need to manage expectations.
“This isn’t going to be a holiday like any we’ve had before, so we’ll all need to adjust our vision to ensure the season matches the reality,” said Dobson during a phone interview. “But by far the biggest worry I’ve heard, and the greatest increased risk factor for mental distress, is loneliness.”
Unfortunately, beating back the shadow of social isolation has perhaps never been more difficult. “We hear about technology as a great way to deal with loneliness, and it can be a veritable lifeline for some. But I know a number of seniors, for instance, who feel no affinity for, or inclination to use, FaceTime or Zoom. That’s a real gap that we need to address, whether by writing letters or making those much-needed phone calls.”
While Dobson often suggests volunteerism or community giving to combat social isolation, that too is going to look different this year.
“With so many charitable events pivoting to virtual formats, getting involved doesn’t afford the same level of social interaction,” he said. “Not only that, but the mere concept of being asked to give can be overwhelming for some people because they feel tapped out just putting one foot in front of the other.”
Dobson explained that psychologists typically talk about three broad factors that influence the risk of developing mental illness: biological, genetic, and social. While biological and genetic factors remain unchanged, the psychological — in particular the social challenges associated with the pandemic’s influence — have tipped the scales toward having more mental health challenges.
“What this means is that, for many people who are struggling, we’re probably not looking at prescribing medications or using treatments (like cognitive behavioural therapy) to combat negative thought patterns. Rather, we are focusing on changing behaviours.”
Dobson gave several examples of what this different approach could look like. For people who tend to be perfectionistic and hypermotivated, managing the pandemic marathon might require letting some of those extra things that create stress slide.
“Saying no is going to be key, especially those smaller tasks that we might normally tackle with gusto. If you’re a dedicated holiday baker and the idea of getting out your mixer is too much to bear, consider supporting a local bakery if your pocketbook allows. If you’re someone who always hosts the holiday party, but the concept of throwing a Zoom Christmas makes you feel like you want crawl under the covers, politely explain that this year you’re not the right person for the job.”
If, said Dobson, you’re someone who can’t seem to find any motivation, then tackling small hurdles can be an effective way to get back on track. “Simple things, like getting up at a regular time and making your bed, can be small habits that help set the tone for a more productive day.”
This holiday season, Dobson’s advice is simple. “Take control of those things you can control and let go of the rest.”
He emphasized that this year, unlike others, reaching out for support could bring some relief. “If you’re a small-business owner who has always given back to your community, but your livelihood now hangs in the balance, there is no shame, no shame whatsoever, in reaching out to receive rather than to give.”
For many, added Dobson, we’re approaching a tipping point in the pandemic. “Anxiety is a forward-looking emotion. We worry about and anticipate the worst of things to come, and that floods us with cortisol and can send us into the fight, flight, or freeze response. In contrast, depression is more about mourning the things we’ve lost, and in that state, we may find ourselves tired or filling the void with unhealthy activities such as eating or drinking too much.”
As the pandemic drags on, and we move collectively from a more anxious state to a depressive one, Dobson emphasized how important it will be to keep an eye on our own wellness and assess our well-being with tools like the mental health continuum model.
If the holiday season gets to be just too much, talking to a professional can help.
“What works for one person right now might be the opposite of what someone else needs to hear. Thankfully, portals like Wellness Together Canada give people the option of having personalized advice from a trained therapist at no cost.”
Grief, said Dobson, is a difficult emotion to manage, especially over the holidays. And we are all grieving something — big or small. “As we cope with this grief, being kind to others (and to ourselves) is maybe the best coping mechanism we’ve got.”
Dr. Keith Dobson is a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary and a senior consultant with the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Suzanne Westover
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Roots of Hope flourishing on the Burin Peninsula
In 2018, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Burin Peninsula became the first of eight communities to sign on to the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC’s) Roots of Hope project — a community-led suicide prevention initiative that aims to prevent suicide with strategies adapted to the local context.
“With such strong wellness leaders throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, advancing life promotion work in the province is an incredible thing to be a part of,” explained Gioia Montevecchi, a consultant with the province’s mental health and addictions division who is also co-chair of its life promotion suicide prevention working group. “Community partnership lies at the heart of the upcoming life promotion suicide prevention plan, and it has informed all of the work happening to transform the mental health and addictions system in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have incredible social capital in the province and vast networks of people working to advance tailored suicide prevention initiatives.”
Three years into the five-year demonstration project, Burin Peninsula has made great strides. “I’ve seen a big change in our community already,” said Denika Ward, coordinator for the area’s Roots of Hope project. “When people used to ask what I did, and I replied with ‘suicide prevention,’ I was met with a lot of silence and blank stares. Now, more people understand the value of what we’re doing and want to be a part of it.”
All community initiatives are centred on Roots of Hope’s five pillars, which include everything from building public awareness to reducing access to potentially dangerous situations (means safety). On Burin Peninsula, public awareness has been at the heart of the effort thus far, and with great success.
Ward led the development of a community suicide awareness presentation, covering topics like warning signs, stigma, starting a conversation, and information about local and provincial resources.
Following the high attendance at the event and a growing demand from the community, project members have adapted the presentation to first responders and youth audiences (as additional requests continue to come in). An online version of the initial presentation will soon be available at BridgethegApp, Newfoundland and Labrador’s repository of mental health resources.
In addition to ongoing public awareness, Burin Peninsula has set its sights on another priority area: men’s mental health. With men accounting for three-quarters of suicides in Canada, it’s easy to understand why.
Illustrator: Kati Oliver
Fortunately, the community doesn’t have to look very far for guidance. A Roots of Hope community in Edmonton has made suicide prevention among men a key action area, complete with a subcommittee dedicated to men’s mental health outcomes.
Some of the activities directed toward men include expanding access to psychoeducational services, offering additional support groups for depression and anxiety, advocating and securing funding for new programming, and participating in existing community initiatives to further develop preventive approaches for those at risk of suicide.
“Sharing knowledge between communities is foundational to the success of the Roots of Hope model,” said Uyen Ta, MHCC program manager for the Prevention and Promotion team, who works closely with the Burin Peninsula community. “The collaborative approach allows communities to learn from each other’s successes and understand how they’ve overcome different challenges along the way.”
Montevecchi agrees. “Communities are the experts on the challenges they face and on the strengths they have to overcome them. Harnessing the knowledge and experience of diverse populations while providing meaningful support for community-led efforts can create a groundswell of impactful work.”
That said, one challenge that none of the communities could have anticipated is COVID-19. To help them and others better understand this new reality, the MHCC has just created a COVID-19 and Suicide policy brief exploring the potential impact of the pandemic on mental health and suicide rates in Canada. Included are insights into which potential risk and protective factors to monitor and identifying current opportunities to influence these trends. While largely directed toward policy makers and those working in health care, the brief’s core message applies to everyone: even in a pandemic, suicide is preventable.
For Ward, the bottom line is simple. “Suicide prevention is everybody’s business. You don’t need clinical skills or training to make a difference. We can all play a part in saving a life.”
Amber St. Louis
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Filling in the knowledge gaps on cannabis use and mental health
“We are all experts in our own right,” declared Krista Benes, director of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC’s) mental health and substance use team. “And that is the premise of community-based research.”
In short, she explained, too often the experiences of underserved groups — or those who are socio-economically disadvantaged — are overlooked in conventional academic research. “But how can we know why young people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community who live with mental illness use cannabis, for example, if we don’t involve them in our research project?”
To better understand how cannabis use affects such marginalized groups, the MHCC is funding 14 projects from across the country to the tune of $1.4 million over two years. Six are Indigenous-led, while others touch on immigrant, refugee, ethnocultural, racialized, and senior populations who experience layers of oppression.
“We saw clear gaps in knowledge around the relationship between cannabis and mental health among groups who are best placed to lead their own explorations,” Benes said, as she explained the three tenets of meaningful community-based research.
First, representatives from the community in question lead the research — that is, they frame the issue they want to explore. Members then participate in every phase of the inquiry. And finally, they become part of the positive social change that occurs as a result of the findings.
“If we believe that community-based research begins and ends with people, then we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” said Louise Bradley, MHCC president and CEO. “It’s no longer just about appearing in a peer-reviewed journal. It also entails a greater focus on practical improvements. Applied research like this allows us to partner with communities to help them improve their circumstances.”
One example is the video series the project team is creating to raise awareness about the harms of stigma. Led by a team from RADAR (Recovery Advocacy Documentary Action Research), participants will craft and distribute videos about cannabis and mental illness.
“This isn’t just some guy in a white lab coat saying, ‘Hey, don’t judge people,’” explained Rob Whitley, RADAR’s principle investigator. The videos will be directed, produced and will feature people who can speak to the topic first-hand. “In this case, public awareness is a side-effect of fostering empowerment, recovery, and resiliency for the filmmakers.”
Benes is genuinely looking forward to what the projects could uncover: “I wish we didn’t have to limit the number to just 14. The extraordinary interest we received, and the caliber of the applications, speaks to the need for this kind of research. There are so many unpursued avenues when it comes to cannabis and mental health — especially among underserved groups.”
The projects will include some of the first examinations of cannabis use and mental health in Métis communities and the first Indigenous-led research of its kind.
“What’s so exciting about this is the prospect of what we’re going to learn and the gaps we’re going to bridge,” said Benes. “The beauty of community-based research is that our goal — no matter the project — is net positive social change.”
And that’s an outcome the MHCC is proud to get behind.
Suzanne Westover
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MHCC President and CEO Louise Bradley reflects on the power of resiliency
There is no doubt that COVID-19 is stretching us thin.
Protecting our physical health isn’t without cost to our mental wellness. As social beings, isolation is taxing. As a species that likes to plan, uncertainty is exhausting. As creatures of habit, we don’t cope well when our routines are upended. Add to this financial strain, home schooling and the anxiety of contracting the virus, it’s no wonder an emotional storm is brewing.
A low mood, and feelings of fear, anger, frustration are perfectly understandable responses to an entirely unfamiliar and abnormal situation. It’s important to validate those feelings and name their provenance. Just as sadness and grief are to be expected after a death, right now, we’re all grieving something — big or small.
We don’t have a crystal ball, but lessons learned from previous disasters and epidemics tell us that cumulative stresses and losses will result in significant mental health problems for some. We shouldn’t be ignoring ongoing symptoms that are interfering with sleep, seriously impeding productivity or resulting in substance misuse. Mental health services, already straining at the seams, will need an infusion of funding and injection of innovation to cope with rising demand.
But in this challenging context, it’s more important that ever to draw the careful distinction between the red flags that signal mental illness, and the more general malaise many of us may be feeling. We shouldn’t conflate a reasonable emotional response to our curtailed freedom and constricted social lives with a diagnosis.
Even more importantly, we shouldn’t assume we’re powerless in this situation.
As human beings, we’ve been gifted the capacity to not only overcome obstacles, but to learn and grow from hardships. We’re talking about resiliency — which can be nurtured by individuals and communities.
Just as we can strengthen our physical muscles by eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, we can also practise flexing and honing our resiliency. Going for a daily walk, phoning a friend, prioritizing gratitude or writing in a journal are healthy ways to manage our emotions. Taking small steps to control our situation can do wonders to improve our perspective. Simple things like making our bed can give us a sense of control, while baking a loaf of bread can give us a sense of purpose.
The outlook we bring to the challenges thrown up by COVID-19 can help predict how well we’ll emerge from the global crisis. If we believe that it’s possible to learn and grow from hardships, that they can teach us lessons in compassion and deepen our relationships, then we can find meaning from our suffering. Surviving an ordeal doesn’t make us resilient.
But tapping into what we’ve learned to be better equipped for the next curve ball does.
While COVID-19 has laid the foundation for many of us to cultivate resilience, it has also exposed the very real gaps and sinkholes that threaten the most vulnerable among us. Self-care only goes so far when schools are closed, long-term care is ravaged by infection, and job losses are widespread.
Practicing resiliency while living in traumatic situations is akin to rebuilding amidst the rubble. We must have access to underpinnings like safe and affordable housing, a living wage, strong community supports, and protection from racism and other forms of discrimination — in addition to robustly funded mental health services. These are the wellsprings from which resiliency can flow.
We have an opportunity to knit together, as a society, to create better safety nets and to innovate more equitable and inclusive policy.
Months of lock-down will have an affect on all of us. But if we’re able to see our experience as one that’s given us pause to reset our priorities, refocus our energy and reframe our worldview, we may emerge, not just as more resilient people, but as a more just and resilient society.
COVID-19 may be stretching us thin, but with resiliency, we can rebound.
Louise Bradley
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The Working Mind training goes virtual
If there was ever a need for crisis training, it was during the onset of COVID-19. That’s one reason the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) stepped into the breach by offering virtual training to more than 5,139 essential workers, who took over 574 courses between April and October.
Now, the MHCC has expanded its virtual offerings to include an updated version of one if its most popular courses — The Working Mind (TWM).
“TWM Virtual combines elements of the original TWM with virtual crisis training to create one complete course,” explained Pauline Meunier, training and delivery specialist for the MHCC’s Opening Minds program. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
The evidence-based program was designed to initiate a shift in the way employees and leaders think and feel about mental health by addressing barriers to care, reducing stigma, and strengthening personal resilience. Each training module includes case studies, videos featuring people with lived experience of mental illness, reference guides, and practical handouts.
“Most adults spend two-thirds of their waking hours at work,” said Louise Bradley, president and CEO of the MHCC. “Now, with many workplaces operating remotely, I would argue that those hours are stretching. That’s certainly been my experience. So it’s more important than ever that employers have the tools to support their workers, especially since mental distress may be harder to detect when people aren’t working under one roof.”
One popular tool to help workplaces keep their finger on the pulse of employee mental health is the mental health continuum model, which highlights a spectrum of thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours associated with different mental health levels, from “healthy” to “reacting” to “injured” to “ill.”
For John Horne, vice-president of Safety, Health, and Environment at Nutrien, it’s been invaluable. “The mental health continuum provides an accessible approach and common language for the organization to talk about mental health. TWM’s emphasis on teaching employees and leaders to focus on actions that can be taken early on the continuum ensures that we can be proactive in giving employees the support they need for their mental well-being.”
As a former paramedic chief, Meunier knows the value of prioritizing mental health in the workplace firsthand. “You never know who’s struggling. Many employees put their work first, at their own expense,” she explained. “If you aren’t investing in and supporting the mental health of your employees, it will cost you down the road — whether through loss of productivity or an inability to keep moving forward at work.”
TWM Virtual offers a five-hour course for employees and a seven-hour version for managers. While both address similar topics — self-assessment, stress, stigma, and resilience — the manager’s course emphasizes the role leaders play in supporting their staff. Managers are given techniques to assist employees who may be struggling, including how to approach conversations about suicide.
One organization that recognized the value in this skill set was Enbridge, which had arranged TWM training for leaders in its major offices before the pandemic hit. “At Enbridge, safety is at the core of everything we do,” said human resources specialist Lisa McCarney, “and that includes the psychological health and safety of our employees. We have now pivoted to virtual training, which allows us to reach leaders wherever they are working: whether in the major offices, at home, or in our smaller and more remote locations.”
As with the traditional TWM programs, TWM Virtual is based on scientific evidence and is subject to rigorous pre- and post-evaluation outcome measures. Course instructors are also held to a high standard, undergoing extensive training not only to deliver the content effectively, but also to create the safe environment needed to foster open conversations about mental health.
“What sets TWM Virtual apart is the high level of care for participants,” said Charles Boyer, manager of business development for the MHCC’s Opening Minds and Mental Health First Aid programs. “Throughout each course, moderators pay careful attention to make sure participants are doing well, opening up virtual breakout rooms whenever they are needed. We want participants to feel safe, comfortable, and engaged.”
For Meunier, the message to employers who are considering the training is simple. “Investing in the mental health and well-being of employees is crucial to the overall health of your organization. Whatever you invest today, you’ll make back tenfold tomorrow.”
Amber St. Louis
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New national student standard aims to bolster mental wellness in post-secondary institutions
Attending college or university can be an exciting period of growth, exploration, and independence — but it can also be a time of tremendous pressure and stress. Well before the onset of the pandemic, the 2019 National College Health Assessment found that more than half of post-secondary students in Canada felt so depressed it was difficult to function, and nearly 70 per cent felt overwhelming anxiety.
To support post-secondary institutions in promoting positive mental health outcomes on and off campus, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), in collaboration with CSA Group, have created the National Standard of Canada: Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students.
This new standard — the first of its kind in the world — is a set of voluntary guidelines developed in consultation with diverse stakeholders, including students, administrators, service providers, and people with lived and living experience of mental illness. Its goal is to provide a consistent, evidence-based framework schools can use to enhance existing mental health strategies or develop new ones.
“While it’s too soon to understand the full impact COVID-19 will have on students’ mental health, we know the pandemic has added a layer of complexity,” said Sandra Koppert, the MHCC’s director of Mental Health Advancement. “Implementing this new standard is a chance for post-secondary institutions to reinforce their commitment to student mental wellness, both now and after the pandemic.”
To help schools build momentum, the MHCC has launched a starter kit for its new standard, which includes a variety of resources, next-steps, and key considerations to support their alignment with the framework.
“Given the diversity of these institutions, we can’t have a one-size-fits-all solution,” said MHCC president and CEO Louise Bradley, who emphasized that “the framework isn’t dissimilar to the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, which needed to work ‘for shops on Main Street and banks on Bay Street.’ For colleges and universities, their size, geographic location, and areas of specialty — not to mention their vision and values — will all determine how they wish to tailor their actions.”
Koppert agrees that the customized approach to improvement is what sets the new standard apart. “Many schools have great mental health initiatives already in place, but as circumstances change, the needs of students change with them. This standard provides a framework that helps schools adapt and expand their programs to ensure they’re as effective as possible.”
“Consider the COVID reality,” added Bradley. “With courses shifting online, instructors may become the primary point of contact for many students. So it’s more important than ever to equip them with tools that can help them recognize the signs of mental distress and support their students effectively. To that end, some institutions may choose mental health training for faculty, which directly aligns with the evidence-based recommendations in the standard.”
For Ed Mantler, the MHCC’s vice-president of Programs and Priorities, “this new standard helps institutions see that many aspects of their policies can be seen through a mental health lens. From accommodation policies to diversity and inclusion efforts to subsidies and grants, all impact mental health and need to be understood as such.”
Research shows that students who get the mental health support they need are more likely to succeed in their classes and graduate.
But as Bradley points out, the benefit of supporting student mental health goes beyond the bell curve.
“Understanding mental health and wellness, knowing when and how to seek help, and breaking down stigma are lessons that will prepare students well for the rest of their lives. To me, that spells success.”
Suzanne Westover
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Donovan Taplin harnesses the power of lived experience
Back in the spring, at the height of the pandemic, Donovan Taplin happened to see that the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) was seeking a new board director.
“The timing was perfect,” said Taplin. “The bulk of my work as vice-chair of the technical committee in charge of developing the post-secondary standard for student mental health was behind me, but I felt that my contribution was just getting started.”
Louise Bradley, president and CEO of the MHCC, strongly agreed. “I first heard Donovan speak at Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincewide youth mental health conference in 2015, and his talk still resonates with me today.”
But when Taplin recalls his first meeting with Bradley, it’s not the view from the podium that comes to mind. “At that point, I had shared my struggles with mental illness with just one close friend, and now I was about to get on a stage and share those struggles with hundreds of strangers. I was terrified. Then, a woman seated next to me took my hand (she could see I was trembling) and whispered, ‘You don’t have to do this. If you aren’t ready, I’ll wave that MC away, and they’ll figure out a Plan B. I’ll be right here with you.’”
Bradley smiled when hearing of Taplin’s recollection. “It’s a reminder, I think, that while kindness costs us nothing, the result can be priceless — and that’s certainly the case with Donovan’s advocacy.”
Taplin said that those grounding words propelled him onto the stage that day, which has since opened the doors to sharing some of the wisdom born from lived experience.
“I grew up on a rural island community in Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.). I didn’t have clinical or social support or even a language to discuss how debilitated and overwhelmed I was when it came to my mental health. I also knew that I was queer, and that feeling unsafe and unaccepted was contributing to how unwell I felt all the time. Eventually, I took a boat to St. John’s for my first therapy session, even though I was afraid that my being queer would be a valid reason for refusing to treat me. Thankfully, I was wrong and that’s when my recovery began.”
Here, Taplin paused to emphasize that the discrimination 2sLGBTQ+ people face isn’t a relic of the past.
“After my undergrad, just a few years ago, my partner and I moved to Toronto — a city that represented all the things I craved: inclusivity, progressive values, rich diversity. And yet my first experience with the city was being denied an apartment, explicitly because I was part of a same-sex couple.”
Taplin has since stayed in the city following graduate studies to work at the University of Toronto’s Health and Wellness Centre but is now sometimes feeling the weight of shifting roles.
“On the one hand, I’ve just been one of the most prominent student voices on the committee that set out to transform how post-secondary students are supported at colleges and universities. On the other, my current work with administrators lets me see some of the institutional challenges involved. Those will take time to unravel before we can realize something closer to the wellness-driven community envisioned in the Student Standard.”
Taplin explained that the Student Standard is meant to be a bridge, a means to get students together with the administration to co-create higher-learning communities where students aren’t left on their own to navigate a complicated system.
Such efforts on the National Standard of Canada: Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students were recently recognized through a CSA Group Young Professional Award, which acknowledged Taplin’s compassionate and dedicated leadership.
The governance skills needed to co-lead the Student Standard technical committee took root at the tender age of 19, when Taplin was elected as a town councillor for Wabana, Bell Island, N.L. In that role, they helped establish the community’s first recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week as well as Pride Month. Since that time, Taplin’s ability to effect positive change is reflected in positions on the Premier’s Youth Advisory Committee (N.L.) and the Prime Minister’s Youth Council.
That spirit of creating improved circumstances for all is what drew Taplin to the MHCC’s board. “I see the organization as a bit of a lantern, showing individuals, organizations, and governments a way forward toward improved policy, better access, and ultimately, parity in funding.”
Bradley concurred. “We can only burn as brightly as the hearts and minds that fuel our work. There is no doubt in my mind that Donovan is going to challenge us and buoy us up. In some ways, I have watched Donovan grow up — certainly I’ve witnessed very formative years. One thing I know for sure: the future of mental health advocacy is in good hands.”
