Next Thursday is the WHO’s World Mental Health Awareness Day, and in Canada the entire week of October 6-12 is dedicated to Mental Illness Awareness. Whether you (or your family and friends) deal with the daily reality of living with a mental health issue, or you want to help work toward increased awareness and acceptance of mental illness, these links should point you in the right direction.
The Elephant in the Room is a campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Participants can obtain blue elephant stickers and display them prominently as an unspoken statement of support for and acceptance of individuals dealing with depression, mood disorders, and other mental conditions. It’s also a signal that It’s a ?safe place to talk about mental illness without fear of being looked upon differently, thought of less, or punished.?
Mood Disorders Society of Canada Forum
These forums, maintained by the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, are a safe place to discuss mental health issues ranging from addiction to bipolar disorder to SAD.
October is Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month, dedicated to ?[increasing] awareness of a comprehensive approach to workplace health in Canada.? Visit the Healthy Workplace website for resources to help create supportive work environments for employees with mental health issues.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Awareness Day is ?Mental health and older adults.? This link, from the Canadian Coalition for Seniors? Mental Health, provides a wealth of resources to help older adults and their families understand and make decisions about mental health issues.
