The CatalystConversations on Mental Health
Well before the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the pandemic, there was already a crying need to support the mental health of people in the Veteran community. But adding these further pressures to an already charged powder keg makes it clear that this need has only grown. In particular, the end of this 13-year mission has many asking, “What was it all for?”
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Only a few pages into Jann Arden’s new book, If I Knew Then: Finding Wisdom in Failure and Power in Aging, I am convinced she’s borrowed a tiny piece of my own experience with grief and put it on the page in my stead.
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From my very first day at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, praise for Mental Health First Aid training travelled like folklore. Whether through personal experience or testimonials from former participants, it seemed as if everybody knew of someone who had been affected by the course.
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Understanding recovery starts with acknowledging that every person is entitled to a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life, even if they experience mental health problems or illnesses and/or substance use concerns. With that basic right comes a powerful shift to a path toward wellness that is rooted in hope, dignity, self-determination, and responsibility.
Read moreSowing seeds of compassion
The challenges wrought by the pandemic are splashed across the news. They inundate our social media feeds and dominate our conversations (still masked and at a distance) if we run into neighbours at the convenience store or gas station.
Read moreTeaching students to be brave, reach out, and speak up about mental health
When much of the world shut down in March 2020, HEADSTRONG program manager Fiona Haynes was heartsick. HEADSTRONG summits are interactive gatherings that give young people the chance to learn about mental health and gain the tools they need to become anti-stigma champions and ambassadors in their schools and communities.
Read moreParenting on mute
There is a “secret society” at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), just like there is at every workplace across the country. Its members recognize each other through various signs and signals — some subtle, others less so.
Read moreLearning to create safe spaces for youth
Long before the pandemic, the need to support the mental health of young people was evident. With 50 per cent of all mental health problems established by age 14, the formative years of our youth are some of the most vulnerable.
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Celebrating a behind-the-scenes champion
Phil Upshall, an influential mental health leader who was "ahead of his time", had a strong impact on many initiatives at the MHCC.
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For Dr. Mary Bartram, policy director at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, gaining a better understanding of the realities of those who work in the field of mental health and substance use is key to unlocking improved mental health outcomes.
Read moreBehind the badge
The Working Mind First Responders offers police a new kind of protection.
Read moreTalking to Children About a Suicide
How to mentally prepare, what to expect (or not expect), and how to respond with language that is helpful, not harmful.
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Firefighter Steve Jones on the merits of The Working Mind First Responders course.
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Because the effects of the pandemic are not felt equally, the Mental Health Commission of Canada is turning its attention to populations that are disproportionately affected — including women.
Read moreThe winds of change
Change is never easy, conceded Louise Bradley, C.M., outgoing president and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary,” she said from her home office in Newfoundland, where she’s been working throughout the pandemic. “I spent a lot of time reflecting as I went on early morning hikes. Moving on from the MHCC wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly . . . but once it was made, it did feel like a weight had lifted.”
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Changing the culture of care
Stephanie Knaak has been studying structural stigma for the better part of a decade. She’s an expert in the foundational policies, laws, and practices in our health-care system that put people who live with mental illness at a disadvantage.
Read moreFrom medic to mental health advocate
For Pauline Meunier, a paramedic of 26 years, it took a trip to the allergist to give her anxiety a name. “What I thought were allergic reactions turned out to be panic attacks,” she said. “Before I was asked about anxiety, it never occurred to me that my mental health could be the problem.”
Read moreWelcoming women back to work
New MHCC resource aims to support women sidelined from the workforce
Read moreParents lend their experiences to cannabis research
New community-based research explores cannabis consumption during pregnancy and parenthood
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