By: Sarah Haque
It affects all of us.
Public Health Agency of Canada findings indicate that 1 in 3 of us will experience mental illness in our lifetime. So chances are someone we care about might be suffering right now.
Today, I want to talk about the importance of being aware of mental health issues in our work lives.
Research shows that half a million Canadians miss work every year because of their mental health. Disorders like anxiety, depression and insomnia, if left untreated, can lead to end of life.
Awareness and support are critical in saving lives.
MCIS offers its staff members access to Humancare, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers support 24/7 online support. For more information, please visit www.humanacare.com.
Other forms of support can include healthy break activities such as meditation sessions or planning a healthy meal together. These initiatives can give us all healthy breaks from work and help us to relax, energize, or refocus.
Getting the help we all need is an important part of treating mental disorders. So here’s how we can recognize the signs of mental distress in family, friends, or coworkers:
- significant mood changes
- withdrawal from family, friends, or favourite activities
- changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- missing work or school more often
- new or increased alcohol or drug use
- talk of being a burden, or being in unbearable pain
- talk of, or having a plan for, suicide
If we notice these changes in ourselves or someone we care about, we should reach out for help. If we are worried about someone, we can lend an ear, share our own journey, and connect them to local services.
We must remember mental health isn’t only about avoiding crisis situations. It’s about taking steps toward holistic health goals.
We all deal with the ongoing stress of balancing work with our personal lives. So we must join hands in encouraging our friends and family to speak up and make changes.
For more information on where to find mental health support please visit:
The Medical Clinic for Person-Centred Psychotherapy (OHIP covered)
Medical Psychotherapy Association Canada (OHIP covered)
Toronto Psychoanalytic Society & Institute (MDs are OHIP covered)
Bounce Back created by CMHA accepts referrals to the service by family doctors, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, social worker or case manager.
For paid psychotherapy, affordable options are available at these organizations:
Affordable Counselling in Toronto
Centre for Training in Psychotherapy
Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
For immediate crisis supports, they please reach out to the following agencies:
Distress Centre
416-408-4357
Gerstein Crisis Centre
416-929-5200
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
416-863-0511
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre
416-597-8808
Victim Services Toronto
416-808-7066
Ontario Addiction, Mental Health & Problem Gambling Services
1-866-531-2600
For peer support related to mental health:
Frontline Workers’ Collective: Self-Care for Community Support Workers
Trans Lifeline
1-877-330-6366
LGBT Youth line
1-800-268-9688
Here is some other information that may be useful.
Free Online Courses:
Mental Health and Resilience During COVID-19 (CTRI webinar)
Mind Control: Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19
Mental Health Works (free webinars re: workplace mental health during COVID-19)
And finally, some helpful resources for the mental health of staff:
Managing Mental Health Matters
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-IgdKJL2sInZEuxeruF7w
An organization called ANBU (Abuse Never Becomes Us), based in Toronto, has also created the attached resources for accessing mental health support safely while at home during the pandemic.