November is Men’s Health Awareness Month and CMHA, Alberta Division was lucky to sit down with Next Gen Men’s Youth Program Manager, Jonathon Reed. We discussed Next Gen Men’s work, his personal philosophies and what a brighter future may look like for a cornerstone of men’s mental health: youth support. Troubling Trends In recent years, […]Continue readingTo Be a Man
This two-part series details the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division’s three-year research project on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); the impact MDD has on the lives of Canadians, how they cope with MDD, and what a brighter future looks like for Canadians with MDD – all through the lens of lived experience. In part […]Continue readingMajor Depressive Disorder, Part Two | Treatment and progress
This two-part series details the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division’s three-year research project on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); the impact MDD has on the lives of Canadians, how they cope with MDD, and what a brighter future looks like for Canadians with MDD – all through the lens of lived experience. In part […]Continue readingMajor Depressive Disorder, Part One | Defining MDD and its impacts
Since 2019, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division has been working on the Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Project – a three-tiered initiative to research the lived experience of people with MDD, develop and amplify educational messaging, combat stigma, raise awareness and understanding of MDD, and to advocate for ways to improve support, resources […]Continue readingThrough a Different Lens: A Conversation with Julien Quickstad
Recognizing Recovery in Alberta September is Recovery Month, and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Alberta recognizes the importance of coming together with organizations across the world in acknowledging what recovery truly means. Whether it’s recovery from substance addiction or overcoming mental health challenges, CMHA in Alberta is committed to raising awareness, advocating for […]Continue readingThe Importance of Recovery
June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada – a day which presents the opportunity to celebrate the heritage, culture and achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. It is important to remember the past, highlight Indigenous achievements today, and actively seek to create a brighter tomorrow as we share a vision of […]Continue readingA Conversation with Chris Yellowbird
June is Pride Month and a time to recognize the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ2S+ community. It is also an opportunity to advocate for better mental health access, resources, safe spaces and elimination of discrimination in our schools and workplaces. Canada is home to approximately one million people who are LGBTQ2+, accounting for 4% […]Continue readingThe Importance of Mental Health Resources and Support for the LGBTQ2S+ Community
Celebrating International Nurses Week From May 5th-15th, the world celebrates International Nurses Week. Now more than ever, mental health is becoming a topic of discussion in the workplace. In industries like healthcare, occupational trauma is a common occurrence that comes with the territory. According to OSI-CAN, an occupational stress injury (OSI) leading to trauma can […]Continue readingHolding the Line: Nurses, mental health and the COVID pandemic
March 30th, World Bipolar Day “One percent (1%) of Canadians aged 15 years and over reported symptoms that met the criteria for a bipolar disorder in the previous 12 months” (Government of Canada, 2009). Everyone experiences changes in mood. What makes bipolar disorder different? Bipolar disorder is a mental health diagnosis that sees individuals cycle […]Continue readingLiving with Bipolar Disorder
For two years, COVID-19 has plagued us. And for two years, CMHA and UBC have been asking Albertans how they’re doing. Now, in the latest round of research, Albertans are saying they are stressed about what’s coming next. They’re concerned COVID-19 is here to stay. According to the research, 65% of people in Alberta are […]Continue readingFeel like you’re running on empty these days? You’re not alone.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division joins health professionals across the country to celebrate February as Psychology Month. Led by the Canadian Psychological Association, Psychology Month is an annual national campaign to raise awareness about psychology’s role in helping individuals and communities prosper. CMHA, Alberta Division spoke with three members of the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta to […]Continue readingLived Experience of Psychologists
“I can relate.” It’s a familiar expression and one you’ve likely used countless times throughout the pandemic. When someone has been sick or stressed, felt lonely or lost their job. You say it without having to think: “I get it. I’ve been there. I can relate.” But did you know that, hiding in these very simple sentences, is a sophisticated skill you may not even realize you […]Continue readingThis Mental Health Week is all about empathy
Research is showing that eating disorders are on the rise in young people since the onset of COVID-19. February 1-7, 2022 is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The National Eating Disorders Information Centre (NEDIC) provides information, resources, referrals and support to Canadians affected by eating disorders. These events may be of interest to individuals who have a personal […]Continue readingEating Disorder Awareness Week
Bell Let’s Talk Day is Wednesday, January 26 and we’re joining in to help drive meaningful progress in mental health. Since 2010, Canadians and people around the globe have joined in the world’s largest conversation around mental health on Bell Let’s Talk Day. Together we have taken big steps to reduce the stigma around mental […]Continue readingBell Let’s Talk Day is Wednesday, January 26
This article is brought to you by the Canadian Mental Health Association and ParticipACTION to raise awareness of the mental health benefits of physical activity and provide actionable solutions to Move for your Mood! Move for your Mood As the winter days get shorter, darker and colder, many of us have less energy and a […]Continue readingMove for your Mood
Self-care is the act of taking care of yourself to preserve or improve one’s own health. It can help reduce or eliminate stress, anxiety and depression, improve productivity, and increase happiness. As the new year begins, focusing on your self-care is an excellent resolution to consider taking on. There are many misconceptions about self-care. One […]Continue readingNew Year Self-Care
Mental health has never been more top-of-mind in Canada. Perhaps because the need has never been so great. “It has been 18 months of isolation, stress and uncertainty,” says Margaret Eaton, National CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). “That is why, amid all the turmoil and confusion, we have pushed hard and strong […]Continue readingEnvisioning a Canada where mental health is a human right
Social media — we love it, we hate it, but can we have too much of it? Many of us likely saw our screen time increase throughout the pandemic, particularly when social media seemed to be the only way to maintain connection with others. Schools and restaurants have been closed, and we have had to […]Continue readingMental Health & Social Media
This summer feels different as we shift back to ‘normal.’ Whatever your ‘normal’ was before the pandemic, many young people are experiencing discomfort about transitions back to work or school. Maybe your summer job is exhausting, socializing is too much right now, and you would like more support as you navigate the uncertain months ahead. […]Continue readingFinding your ‘new normal’: Tips for young workers
A world-renowned mental health platform with over 250 organizations partnered is now making waves in Albertan communities. Togetherall is a peer-to-peer online community that allows Alberta residents to connect with others in an environment that is monitored 24/7 by mental health practitioners. The platform also offers free monitored courses and other mental health resources, which […]Continue readingTogetherall Brings Virtual Mental Health Supports to Albertans
Buddy Up for Men’s Suicide Prevention Middle-aged men die by suicide more than anyone else in Canada, including young people and women (Statistics Canada, 2019). Although this statistic is shocking, men often feel pressured to disregard their emotions and deal with emotional pain through harmful behaviours. In 2020, The Centre for Suicide Prevention (CSP) launched […]Continue readingMen and Mental Health
The LGBTQ2S+ community and mental health June is known and celebrated across Canada as pride month. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division, believes the celebration of the LGBTQ2S+ community makes Alberta a safer, healthier place to live. Through programs and initiatives such as Youth Hubs, Healthy Campus Alberta, Recovery Colleges and others, CMHA […]Continue readingPride in Alberta
There is No Health Without Mental Health The focus on mental health is unlike anything our province has experienced before. The impacts of COVID-19 will last long after vaccination. In planning for recovery, mental health is just as important as physical health. CMHA believes mental healthcare should be publicly funded and accessible to every Albertan, […]Continue readingMental Health Must Be Part of the Equation
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on Albertans’ mental health. Whether you are an essential worker, health care professional, parent, employer or caregiver, we have all experienced increased strain on our wellbeing. From April to May 2020, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division, conducted a survey to understand the impact the […]Continue readingThe Impact of COVID-19 on Albertans’ Mental Health
Make mentally healthy workplaces a priority Responsible employers provide physically safe environments for their workers, but do they also consider their employees’ psychological safety? The Canadian economy loses $50 billion a year to mental illness, affecting about 7.5 million working Canadians. (Canadian Mental Health Association, n.d.) Research consistently demonstrates that mentally healthy workplaces can improve […]Continue readingPrioritizing Workplace Mental Health
The pandemic has introduced us to new challenges and amplified our everyday and mental health struggles. Many Albertans have lost motivation to continue with hobbies, clean, study and exercise– and that’s okay. During particularly difficult and stressful times, we may lose a grasp on what brings us joy, solace and comfort. Let’s remember to embrace […]Continue readingSupporting your Mental Health Right Now
As we embrace the holiday season, the realities of a global pandemic have put winter traditions on hold. A busy month, typically filled with quality time with friends and family, religious holidays and new years’ celebrations, will now be spent physically distanced. Many of us will spend the holidays away from the family, friends and […]Continue readingYour Mental Health & COVID-19 During the Holidays
When we exhibit physical symptoms of illness like pain or nausea, we know our family doctor will work quickly to resolve our issue. They will often thoroughly assess us and may link us with specialists for further tests, diagnosis and treatment. In many of these situations, we are not compelled to believe our physical pain […]Continue readingFilling the gaps of mental health care with lived experience
Experiencing mental health challenges does not indicate weakness. The Mental Health Commission of Canada acknowledges the prevalence of mental illness is comparable between men and women. However, societal norms and expectations influence the lack of acceptance afforded men when they talk about personal struggles – particularly when the struggles concern mental health. “From an early […]Continue readingMen & Mental Health: How to start the conversation about your mental health
Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses. Mental health research gathered by the Government of Canada finds Canadians are at-risk for major depressive disorder following traumatic or difficult events and from factors including income, discrimination and workplace stress. In 2012, 5.4 per cent of Canadians 15 years and over reported mood disorder […]Continue readingLearning from those with depression
Back-to-school nerves at the end of summer are expected every year. However, parents and children alike are experiencing a unique set of anxieties about the transition in 2020. “With contentious and sometimes shifting information about the process, these feelings of uncertainty may increase.” (Cooke & Racine & Madigan, 2020) Parents want to be a steady […]Continue readingA Parent’s Guide to Back to School During COVID-19
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division works in partnership with OSI-CAN, an organization facilitating peer support and relationship building for first responders, military and public safety personnel dealing with operational stress injuries (OSI) and post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI). Michael Skinner, a firefighter and advanced care paramedic, has been a frontline emergency worker for […]Continue readingA paramedic’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic
By the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Centre for Suicide Prevention In our culture, we are mostly silent about suicide. But when celebrities die by suicide – as Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain did last week, the issue becomes front-page news. Anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide can attest to its utter devastation. […]Continue readingCelebrity suicide deaths – preventing “contagion”
Wildfires are not uncommon in our country. But this one is. As you know, the scale of the disaster in Fort McMurray is unprecedented. CMHA has created the CMHA Fort McMurray Mental Health Fund (www.cmha.ca/fortmcmurrayfund), in response to the fires that have devastated that community. Canadians have already generously supported disaster relief for the people […]Continue readingUrgent appeal to Canadians: A CMHA Mental Health Fund for Fort McMurray
Get Loud for CMHA’s 65th Annual Mental Health Week CMHA’s 65th Annual Mental Health Week is fast approaching (May 2-8). And again this year, CMHA is asking Canadians to GET LOUD for mental health! Getting loud means speaking up to stop the discrimination and the stigma that usually go hand in hand with mental illness. […]Continue readingMental Health Week 2016
Help CMHA support Bell Let’s Talk Day! Canadians from coast to coast will join the conversation again this year to help break down the stigma associated with mental illness. Bell’s annual Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign encourages people to start the conversation about mental health with friends, family and co-workers, recognizing that simply talking […]Continue readingHelp CMHA Alberta support Bell Let’s Talk Day!
This week Albertans learned about the devastating rise in suicide deaths in our province. It is staggering. Alberta has a high rate to start with (higher than Ontario, for example). More Albertans die by suicide each year than in fatal car collisions. And that was before this year’s increase. This new trajectory is beyond alarming. […]Continue readingSuicide Prevention: It is Everyone’s Responsibility
In this issue: A letter from David Grauwiler, Executive Director of CMHA, Alberta Division 8 tips for mental wellness during the holidays 4 ways to support mental health this holiday seasonContinue readingMy Mental Health Newsletter
Learn how the Canadian Mental Health Association has impacted the lives of Albertans experiencing mental health concerns. Continue readingCMHA Alberta Annual Report 2014-2015
The Centre for Suicide Prevention in Calgary focuses on prevention, because prevention is the only solution to suicide. I recently spent a morning with Mara G. the Executive Director of the Centre for Suicide Prevention (CSP), a branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association here in Alberta. Our conversation focused on the need for a greater […]Continue readingWhat Albertan’s really need to know about suicide
The Government of Alberta has a range of supports available for Albertans who need help during the Christmas season. The Government of Alberta has a range of supports available for Albertans who need help during the Christmas season. Families experience more stress during the holiday season for a variety of reasons – financial strain, time spent […]Continue readingKnow the Numbers that will help Albertans
A tour of CMHA Central Region It was my pleasure to visit Trish M. the Executive Director of CMHA Central Region (Red Deer) last week. CMHA Central Region provides a variety of excellent programs in support of individuals and families impacted by mental health and addictions issues. A highlight for me was the opportunity to visit the […]Continue readingA Visit to the Buffalo
The affection of man’s best friend helped me to survive and face a better day… By Dennis Anderson Many people have made their life’s work, or at least have committed part of their lives to becoming mental health professionals, and volunteers. For those of us striving for mental health, along with our friends and family, […]Continue readingThe “Different” Mental Health Worker
Being diagnosed with a mental illness doesn’t mean your life is over… By Austin Mardon Expectations – we all have them. We have expectations about how our lives will be; about how our children’s lives will be. As children we dream about being astronauts or firemen; I know I did. I came from a family of academics. […]Continue readingNot meeting family and society’s expectations doesn’t equal an unfulfilled life…
Let’s consider both sides of a preventable tragedy…. by Austin Mardon, C.M. Another day, and another story on the news about someone who has committed a horrific act. The stabbings at the Loblaw facility scare us, the randomness of it. People, who should be safe at work, never made it home. Our hearts go out to the wounded, […]Continue readingThe Other Family…
I often get asked how I have done so well in life, even though I live with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. BY AUSTIN MARDON I often get asked how I have done so well in life, even though I live with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The answer is simple. I have never gone off my prescribed […]Continue readingLiving a full life, despite a diagnosis with mental illness…
Surviving holidays and special occasions year round… by Nancy Rempel My birthday falls one month prior to Christmas, and I always feel like it marks the beginning of “the crazy season.” For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with feeling peaceful at this time of year. I am the “baby” in my family, […]Continue readingHow to make special occasions sane….
My lived experience with depression and Bi-Polar II depression By Nancy Rempel I have struggled with depression for most of my adult life. Being given a “label” from the tender age of 14 is not an easy burden to bear in a society with such a strong stigma around mental illness. I still cringe when I […]Continue readingGetting the correct diagnosis and living with the stigma around mental illness, isn’t easy…
Major depression is not feeling a bit blue.. By Nancy Rempel Depression sucks! I am not talking about feeling a bit blue or down for a day or two. I`m talking about soul-sucking living death, which is what major depression is for me. I experienced my first real taste of my illness when I was 14. […]Continue readingMajor depression is not the same as feeling a bit down…
The strange case of my elderly mom’s loss and return of her memory… By Nancy Rempel On the side of a filing cabinet in my psychologist’s office is a sign that simply reads: “Please don’t feed the thoughts.” It took me a while to really understand the message it is conveying. I got the humour part […]Continue readingMinds are funny things and shouldn’t always be trusted…
I am writing this at 30,000 feet on a flight to Montreal to participate on a panel related to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)… By Austin Mardon I am writing this at 30,000 feet on a flight to Montreal to participate on a panel related to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). I […]Continue readingCelebrated advocate tells us what it is really like
My battle with depression began more than 30 years ago. By Nancy Rempel My battle with depression began more than 30 years ago. I grew up in a home that was very uncomfortable with emotions, except anger. The deaths of my eldest brother and only sister from the genetic disorder Cystic Fibrosis bookmarked my unexpected appearance […]Continue readingEscaping the realm of living death
So what is normal? For anyone with experience of mental illness, ‘normal’ is a curiosity. By Scott McKeen So what is normal? For anyone with experience of mental illness, ‘normal’ is a curiosity. Hearing voices, for example, is considered abnormal. But what about self talk, or self criticism? Is that insane? What is the line between […]Continue readingMaybe abnormal isn’t so abnormal anymore
Some of history’s notable writers attempted to describe their experiences with depression… By Scott McKeen Some of history’s notable writers attempted to describe their experiences with depression. The task is almost absurd. Explaining depression is like describing shades of green to a blind Martian. But writers are stubborn lot. Words might fail, but writers search for […]Continue readingAnxiety and depression — a survivor’s tale