麻豆视频

The national mental health awareness day, 鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk Day鈥�, was held on Wednesday across Canada, but what was begun on that day ought to be only the start, as the talking should continue today, tomorrow and throughout the year.

The campaign is a good one in terms of opening up a public dialogue on mental health, and encouraging people to speak up or to seek help if they need it.

Mental health is just as important and crucial to one鈥檚 overall wellbeing as physical health is, as indeed one can overlap and impact on the other, whether for good or for bad.

The awareness of the public about the issues, and about the need to talk about them, has noticeably grown. In a survey conducted in 2019 by Nielsen Consumer Insights, 84 per cent of Canadians said they are comfortable speaking with others about their mental health, compared to 42 per cent in 2012.

There is room for improvement, as there is in most any area of life, and it comes down to each individual and how they feel about themselves, or how well they interact with the loved ones in their lives.

In relation to the 鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk鈥� campaign, a series of suggestions were developed for people to consider for their everyday interactions 鈥� and the plus is, these are relevant every day of the year, for everyone.

The five points are: language matters, as the words you use can make all the difference; educate yourself, so you know what the facts and myths are around mental health issues; be kind, whether with a warm smile, a hug, or being a good listener; listen and ask how you can help, as being a good listener can be an important first step; and finally, talk about it.

Like the Weyburn-produced book on the same theme said in its title, 鈥渂reak the silence鈥�. The best way to remove any stigma around mental illness is to just be open and honest about it, about how you鈥檙e feeling, and what struggles you鈥檙e going through in your life.

As in both the national campaign and in the book, the stories of people who have experienced issues around mental health and have dealt with them can be a very valuable catalyst for those facing struggles and aren鈥檛 sure how or where to start.

If you have a loved one or a friend who is dealing with issues, be a friend, show you care and ask how they鈥檙e doing.

They may or may not be open to talk about it, but showing friendship and that you care is a very good place to start.

Having a special day where the discussions about mental health are at the forefront is valuable, but those discussions can鈥檛 just stop there 鈥� continue the conversation, be a friend, show you care, and make sure you鈥檙e there for whoever needs you.