Talking Mental Health
Talking about your Mental Health and its ups and downs is much more acceptable than it used to be. It is no longer something you should have to hide or be ashamed of, battle on your own or let it spin your life out of control. Good mental health gives you energy, resilience, and positive expectations of your life.
But just like in our physical health, things can go wrong. In the same way that no one sets out to catch a cold or twist an ankle, we can get stuck, feel anxiety and see only the problems. Both the twisted ankle and the twinge of anxiety will usually resolve on their own with a bit of slowing down and thoughtful care.
What happens though when repeated unexpected situations cause anxiety to loom large? Continually looping in negativity, feeling overwhelmed to the point of indecision and inaction, and losing hope – the total absence of silver linings – that is a crisis.
It’s like breaking a leg or bleeding from a deep wound.
It needs the equivalent of a hospital emergency department.
It needs professional attention and care.
It needs follow-up and progress checks on recovery.
Healing from this will take time, patience and a lot of support.
So, best to avoid the crisis scenario, when possible, and learn to recognize when that twinge of anxiety is likely to multiply and warp towards emotional outbursts, depression or worse.
FREE Resources
Here are three FREE but very different resources to check out.
School-aged children
Educating children – especially ones with Learning Disabilities or ADHD who are more prone to mental health issues – about what to watch out for, how to manage mental health and find help, is the reason for this new video series.
“A series of free, evidence-based video and print resources that caregivers and educators can use to teach their kids critical mental health and coping skills.”
The project was born of a partnership between the state of California and the Child Mind Institute with content in both English and Spanish. The video resources are designed to be age-appropriate with separate series for elementary, middle school and high school aged students. They are engaging and have authentic voices that will resonate with students.
Young Adults and Adults
For those not yet ready to talk to someone face to face, Togetherall it is an online mental health community moderated by clinical professionals. It’s anonymous, partnered with Alberta Health and various post-secondary institutions, and provides 24/7 support.
“Togetherall is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing. Millions of people across Canada have free access through organizations, colleges and universities. Togetherall is free to all post-secondary students and those aged 16-29 in Nova Scotia, and all residents aged 16+ in Alberta.”
For Families in Calgary
April MacDougall is a Mental Health and Addictions Navigator. As part of an initiative between the City of Calgary and Hull Services, she provides free guidance to families who want to find help. April is a registered psychologist with 15 years experience who really knows the mental health system: where to start, who to contact and how the process works. Read more about what April can do for your family here.
