At any given time, almost three million Canadians have serious depression. On any given day, 500,000 Canadians miss work because of mental illness.
With 1 in 5 Canadians suffering from a mental illness in their lifetimes, it's a safe bet that someone you know is facing a mental health crisis. It could very well be you.
Where can you go for help?A family physician or another trusted health care provider is a great place to start. But there are also several organizations and resources in Canada that can help you understand mental illness, tell you what signs indicate a friend or family member is having difficulty, and provide advice on how to help a person in crisis.
Mental Health First AidMental Health First Aid Canada (MHFA) gives people the skills to provide the early help that is so important in recovery.
Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment arrives, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or the crisis is resolved.
Developed in Australia, the MHFA program here is an initiative of the federal Mental Health Commission of Canada. The program works to increase Canadians' knowledge of mental health issues, and provide them with the skills they need to identify and manage mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague.
MFHA is not about teaching people how to be therapists. But it does teach them how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, provide some initial help and guide the person toward the right professional support.
MHFA offers a wide range of courses to meet those objectives. The courses cover a basic grounding in mental health and mental illness, signs and symptoms of mental health problems and crisis situations, effective interventions and early treatments plus ways to get professional help. To find out more, please visit mentalhealthfirstaid.ca.
Numerous other organizations provide support and education for people in need of help with mental disorders:
Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada (ADAC)anxietycanada.caInformation on anxiety disorders, links to provincial societies and other useful organizations.
Canadian Mental Health Associationcmha.caA nationwide charitable organization that provides a range of information on mental health and mental illness.
Centre for Suicide Preventionsuicideinfo.caA non-profit organization that offers a specialized library on suicide, provides training workshops and supports research.
Kids Help PhoneKidsHelpPhone.ca or 1-800-668-6868Canada's only 24-hour, anonymous phone and online counselling service for at-risk youth links them with professional counsellors across the country free of charge.
Mood Disorders Society of Canadamooddisorderscanada.caA national volunteer-driven organization committed to improving quality of life for people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and other related illnesses.
Schizophrenia Society of Canadaschizophrenia.caCommitted to improving the lives of those affected by schizophrenia along with their families, this organization's website provides both information and advocacy opportunities.y
