Get Help
Finding help to cope with a mental illness is an individual process, and it’s important to honour each person’s course of action when they are seeking improved mental health. There are a wide variety of treatment and wellness options available for those coping with mental illness. While some people prefer a more traditional approach to mental health, others may seek alternative or newer methods.
If you or someone with you is in crisis, contact your local crisis line. This number is in the front of your phone book. If suicide is a possibility, call 911. This situation is an emergency.
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Supporting Someone with a Mental Health Concern
The support of family and friends is critical to help someone cope with mental illness. Here are some ways to help a friend or relative cope with mental illness: Listen It takes courage to talk about emotional problems or mental health concerns. Sometimes the best thing a friend or family member can do is lend an ear. Without thinking about what you want to say next and without outside distractions (T.V., cell phones, etc.), focus on what the other person is saying. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand something. Don’t offer “quick fixes” or advice unless asked to do so. Help the person find support Offer phone numbers and…
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Types of Help
The Canadian Mental Health Association advocates for all types of care that help people find optimal mental health. The treatments that a doctor prescribes could include one or more of the following: Medication; Psychotherapy and/or counseling; Alternative methods; Community support services. Just as there are different causes and symptoms, there are also many different ways to deal with the unique aspects of each mental illness. Medication Medication can be a crucial component for treatment of certain mental illnesses. Physicians and psychiatrists are medical doctors able to assess an individual’s condition, work with patients to determine a diagnosis, and prescribe medication and/or other treatments necessary in order to help a patient.…
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Talk to your doctor
The first step to accessing help begins by visiting your family doctor. Talking to a doctor as soon as possible about any mental health concern can help clarify options for assistance and determine, or rule out, any physical causes for mental health issues. If you don’t have a regular family doctor, there are other options available for accessing mental health professionals: Go to a walk-in clinic or local hospital emergency room; Call Alberta’s 24-hour Mental Health Help Line from anywhere in Alberta at1-877-303-2642 for confidential information and referrals; Call Health Link Alberta, a 24-hour advice and health information line staffed by registered nurses. Call from anywhere in the province by dialing:…