While Keep-In-Mind Advocacy fights for more mental health support in Canada, there are still articles to read for support in the time being. Keep-In-Mind Advocacy is not a board of doctors, in any way, shape, or form. All information supported and shared throughout the website is purely based on statistics and facts from actual doctors.
In a very uncertain world, words that were once easily defined, have additional grey area. Simple tasks, such as going to school, have been affected by additional rules. These additions to the daily agenda, have affected many in a negative way. Today, mental health issues have skyrocketed.
According to a study done by Michelle D. Guerrero and Joel D. Barnes through Statistics Canada, “Mental health among Canadians has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to identify profiles of mental health difficulties and to quantify the relationships between mental health profiles, negative impacts related to the pandemic and suicidal ideation.”
The findings were split into three profiles: No mental health difficulties, low-to-moderate mental health difficulties, and severe mental health difficulties. This study was done in adults 18 and over. The statistics prove that there was a spike in mental health issues. Though 65.70% of the group analyzed said they did not come out of the pandemic with difficulties, many said that there still was a feeling of depression. 25.52% of the data group said that they came out of the pandemic with low-to-moderate mental health difficulties, having faced emotional distress. 8.78% of the data group said they came out of the pandemic with severe mental health issues. Based on statistics, groups 2 and 3 went through more emotional distress than those in the first group (65.70%). These implications on groups 2 and 3 were marked as through the death of someone close, difficulty in meeting financial obligations or essential needs, loneliness or isolation, etc.
Through an odds ratio, which is a statistic that quantifies the strength between two events, the study calculated the percentage of likelihood of suicide ideation. Individuals in profile 2 and 3 were considerably more likely to have contemplated suicide, with those in profile 2 being 4.27% more likely, and those in profile 3 being 19.09% more likely. Those in profile 1 were 0.16% likely to consider it.
This information is extremely valuable in every case, regardless of country of origin. Mental health disorders have run rapid, while the internet has grabbed onto that, to share its opinion. The effect the internet has had on mental health education has been incredible. From shaming those struggling, to allowing the internet to diagnose individuals, misinformation has moved far too much.
Mental health is the wellbeing of the mind, according to Mental Health.gov. As mental health relies on social, physical, and emotional health, the implications poor mental health can have on daily life, is incredible. Emotional distress can affect social situations at work or school, which can affect future endeavors beyond that.
Maintaining a healthy mind can take place in a variety of different ways. From meditating to medication, there are various ways that mental health can be supported in a modern environment. Talking to a doctor about the struggles one is facing, is a great first step… However, what happens if you’re too deep?
In the author’s opinion, the Canadian Healthcare system has been struggling following COVID-19. To say that it is in shambles, would be an understatement. Mental health support in children and adults who are suicidal, is next to none. After discussing these issues with peers, the author gained knowledge from someone who did go to the hospital requesting help, following a suicide plan.
“I went to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and told them that I was suicidal,” they had said. “This was in 2021, mind you. COVID patients everywhere, angry parents, that sort of thing. After hours of waiting to go in and talk to someone, they handed my parents a piece of paper that basically said to lock up the knives. They told us that the psychiatry office was closed, and there was no way they could help.”
“Thank goodness my parents knew what they were doing. My mom had taken courses upon courses to help me manage my anxiety, my dad constantly reminded me how much he loves me, and now I’m on the other side. My heart breaks for the families that don’t have the same resources that mine does.”
“Before my suicide ideation debacle, I’d been seeing a psychologist from Access Mental Health. I was so distraught that I would lie through every session. My mom would pop her head in and tell my psychologist that I was lying to him. A week before everything fell apart, I was discharged.”
The following information was gathered from an article done by CTV News, in December of last year:
““There’s definitely a sense that we don’t have enough resources to respond to the need,” Margaret Eaton, national CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview. “There’s need, and there’s this gap in being able to actually provide the service.”
According to data collected by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Canadians are waiting weeks in order to access ongoing mental health counselling in their community. Based on data collected from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, about half of Canadians waited 22 days, on average, for their first scheduled mental health counselling session. About 10 per cent of Canadians waited nearly four months.
Despite these numbers, some mental health providers have waitlists that are six months to one year long. At the CMHA’s Peel Dufferin branch in Ontario, CEO David Smith says there have been more instances of residents reaching out for mental health support since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The branch, which is partially funded by the provincial government, saw a 30 per cent increase in crisis calls by June 2020 compared to the year before. The branch’s crisis help lines, which are open 24/7, provide an immediate response to those calling in for help, either over the phone or through in-person visits. Since then, the demand for assistance has remained fairly consistent year-over-year, he said.”
All of this research proves, that mental health support is essentially non-existent in Canada.
The first step to advocating is educating. With a spike in mental health issues, and a lack of support for those struggling, it’s time to take a different approach. Today, it is imperative that mental health education is there for those who need it, and to allow it to be at the fingertips.
“Profiles of Mental Health and Their Association with Negative Impacts and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Canadian Perspective.” Statistics Canada: Canada’s National Statistical Agency / Statistique Canada : Organisme Statistique National Du Canada, 18 Aug. 2022, www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2022008/article/00002-eng.htm.
“What Is Mental Health?” MentalHealth.gov, 28 Feb. 2022, www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health.
“Some Canadians Waiting Months for Public and Private Mental Health Services.” CTVNews, 23 Dec. 2022, www.ctvnews.ca/health/some-canadians-waiting-months-for-public-and-private-mental-health-services-1.6204350.
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