According to Health Canada one in five Canadians will experience a mental health illness. Four in five will have a friend, family member or co-worker who will face this. Mental health illnesses are not one-dimensional; they involve underlying problems, that can result in challenges including—but not limited to— depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

What Are Mental Health Illnesses?

“It’s [mental health is] difficult to put in a box, it’s actually quite complex”, according to Ilaneet Goren a community support counselor at Alternatives East York Mental Health Counselling Services Agency. “We look at it holistically, which means we take into account multiple factors that operate in a person’s life that are affecting his or her mental health and quality of life.”

In some cases individuals may experience mental health illnesses as a result of their everyday experiences. In others’ cases they are predisposed to facing these challenges regardless.

Martha Ocampo who is the manger of education and resources at Across Boundaries, states that many things can impact an individual’s mental state, ranging from emotional to environmental factors. According to Ocampo when an individual is faced with a mental health illness, it affects their entire well being, sometimes preventing them from performing their daily routines.

Tips for Dealing With Mental Health Illnesses

When someone is faced with a mental health illness it’s important for them and those around them to monitor changes in their behaviour. Signs to look out for according to Ocampo, are becoming easily irritable, restless, withdrawn from friends and regular activities.

Of course these signs can also make it difficult to address the illness. But it’s worthwhile to do so. For example, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggests that getting an assessment done can help identify the nature of the problems being faced and relevant solutions.

According to Goren, it’s also important to create a strong support system. This means surrounding yourself with people you feel safe with and will be sympathetic to your troubles. Another important tip by Goren, is to never feel ashamed. “There is no shame in going through difficulty and challenges,” said Goren.

Stigmas

Goren and Ocampo both state that people of ethnicities, genders, and sexualities, not considered the norm have greater chances of experiencing mental health problems, because of additional social pressures. For instance, if an individual is faced with racial discrimination their emotional and mental well being is directly impacted.

According to Goren society tends to vilify those faced with mental health illnesses and view them as second-class citizens. The stigmas range from people thinking individuals are voluntarily behaving certain ways to thinking that there’s no form of treatment available to them.

Mental Health Illnesses and the Workplace

When it comes to the workplace it’s more likely that an employee experiencing mental health challenges may be discriminated against (e.g. employers may not provide employees with necessary accommodations).

“Just in the same way people with physical disabilities require accommodation,” said Goren “[people with mental health illnesses may require them] to participate on an equal basis. ” In order to allow employees to work to their fullest potential, employers need to be sensitive to the needs of their workers.

An individual’s health and well being are the most important elements of living a happy and successful life. When faced with challenges that make everyday acts unmanageable, it’s important to seek out the supports and accommodations that will help overcome those challenges.

For further resources refer to the CAMH’s guide to Finding Mental Health Services in Ontario. While this guide is specific to the region of Ontario, it can help you identify the types of resources you may wish to access in your own community.

—Raman Nijjar