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.
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.
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.
Phil Upshall, an influential mental health leader who was “ahead of his time”, had a strong impact on many initiatives at the MHCC.
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.
How to mentally prepare, what to expect (or not expect), and how to respond with language that is helpful, not harmful.
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.
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.”
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.
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