The Moose Jaw branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is encouraging residents to #GetLoud about mental health and to discuss what it is really all about.
Good mental health is a state of well-being, where everyone has the ability to reach that healthy status regardless of whether they have a mental illness, explained Donna Bowyer, director of the Friends for Life Program with the CMHA — Saskatchewan division.
“We can all get to that place where we feel good about ourselves and we feel resilient and we can handle anything that comes our way,” she said.
To support residents and their psychological well-being, the Moose Jaw branch is holding three events as part of this year’s 68th annual Mental Health Week, which runs from May 6 to 12 across Canada.
Mental health week events
A pop-up café is being held tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. at Riverview Collegiate. The branch will launch a survey to acquire feedback from residents about what the organization’s priorities should be for the next year. The survey results will also help the branch learn what services it should provide or if there is a gap in mental health coverage.
The survey can be found on the Moose Jaw CMHA branch’s Facebook page. Participants can also fill out a paper survey at the pop-up café if they don’t have access to the internet.
The second event is on Thursday, May 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Riverview Collegiate and features a drumming class. Joanne Crawford, from the University of Saskatchewan, will facilitate this activity.
“It’s just a fun event to sit around and drum … ,” said Bowyer.
“It keeps people in the present. A lot of the times, we get stuck in the past (or) we get stuck in the future... . (Drumming) gets us away from those thoughts of being present in the moment.
The third event the branch is hosting is on Saturday, May 11 and is a masquerade ball from 5 p.m. to midnight at the Heritage Inn Hotel. There will be a DJ and a magician to provide entertainment. Tickets are $75 each or $500 for a table of eight.
All proceeds to go supporting programming through the Moose Jaw CMHA chapter.
Importance of the week
This week is important since it helps break down the stigma surrounding mental illness, Bowyer said. About two-thirds of people with poor mental health have trouble finding support. This could be due to the stigma of reaching out or help not being available when needed.
“We need to get those numbers down,” she continued. “We wouldn’t tolerate that for any other type of illness.”
Data also shows 20 per cent of Canadians — or 7.4 million — have been diagnosed with a mental illness; more than 75,000 Saskatchewanians report being diagnosed with a mental illness.
Reaching out and asking for help are signs of strength, Bowyer pointed out. Much of that help can come from friends, family, the church, or a co-worker. But those struggling need to let others know about their problem so they can receive that assistance.
“We can’t just keep brushing this away. We need to get the help that is out there,” she added. “We need to not worry so much about what people think.”
