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Making it okay to talk about mental illness is a crucial step to reducing the silence that surrounds it. Sharing the knowledge you’ve gained with others is an effective tool to battle this silence. Starting a conversation about mental illness may be as easy as discussing current events. If some news story is grabbing the headlines, it’s not hard to imagine the emotional or mental support the main players might need. If health care is in the news, it’s an easy tie-in to mental health care. Often, people will talk openly to friends when they have had their appendix removed or when they discover they have diabetes. If you feel…

Host a fun event to raise awareness of and support for the fight against mental illnesses. Rally friends or co-workers together for activities you enjoy. Have a great time while giving back to the community. Host a mental health or pamper partyBenefit yourself, your friends, and your family. It may be at a spa, a retreat location, or even in your own home. You set the tone, and ban all outside distractions. Host a corporate challenge eventEvents such as running, cycling, rowing, or trekking can promote your organization, and you can gather pledges to support a workplace mental health initiative. Host an art eventEmerging artists could showcase their talents with projects…

Speak up on behalf of a mentally ill person. Advocating for the empowerment of mentally ill people will help them overcome barriers of discrimination, powerlessness, and isolation. People usually get involved in advocacy because they’ve seen an injustice and want to make a situation better. Through advocacy, we can change attitudes, raise consciousness, and make contact. It takes time to create social policy changes, and it helps to understand the roles of decision-makers such as legislatures and administrative agencies. It also helps to develop skills in areas such as organizing, building media relations, holding meetings, and writing letters. Writing a letter to your MLA or the Alberta Health Minister to…

Volunteering is an excellent way to broaden your social support network and keep your mind active by learning new things. It is an easy way to build connections with your local community, and doing so provides an opportunity to: Share your knowledge and experiences; Give back to your community; Make a positive difference; Feel good about yourself; Discover a new hobby; Make new friends; Help others in need. Most non-profit organizations rely on the dedication of volunteers. Mental health charities are no different. The Canadian Mental Health Association, for example, relies on volunteers to help provide programs to the thousands of people who depend on our services each year. Not…

In the hurried pace of the world in which we live, most people are aware that maintaining a balanced life is difficult at times, but important for sustaining good health. Perceptions about health are changing. The World Health Organization now defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being,” not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Within this context, fostering our mental health every day – not just when we are feeling pressured or unwell – is an important factor in our overall well-being. Characteristics of good mental health include: The ability to enjoy lifeEnjoying life can come from simple things like accepting that some things…