Mental health and you

By Stephen Dyell

What's On Thorold

This past week, Canadian figures took together to raise money and awareness for mental health awareness in Bell’s “Let’s Talk Day”.

Bell managed to raise $3,926,014.20 on just Wednesday that featured calls, texts and retweets from people across the country.

While nearly four million dollars raised is going to be beneficial for Canada and speaking about mental health brings awareness to the forefront, it still leaves the question on what people can do to get help.

One in five Canadians will or have suffered from some form of mental illness. With Thorold’s population around 18,224, think about how many people in the community may be suffering without any showing symptoms.

Mental health problems or disorders can be caused by biology, environment or a combination of both. With unemployment steadily increasing, more and more people are finding themselves feeling like they are down and out.

The numbers don’t lie and without help, the situation can get worse. Fundraisers like “Let’s Talk Day” may help the overall cause but it doesn’t come to the home and help the individual.

There are ways to beat mental illness and Thorold is lucky enough to have a state-of-the-art mental health centre located on Schmon Parkway. That place is called Pathstone Mental Health which is dedicated to improve the quality of life across the lifespan for individuals who are dealing with mental health problems for youths under 18 years of age.

Their assessments help children realize the situation and build on what the root of the problems are from anxiety to personality disorders and it comes at no cost to the individuals.

As for adults, the situation offers different solutions.

The Canadian Mental Health Association offers services to people suffering from depression where they get together and help manage emotions and control relaxations through various forms of meditation but takes place on Jarvis Street in Niagara Falls.

Another option is to contact the local hospital nearest to your location as they have counselors designed to meet the specific needs of the suffering and also to give a voice to express the situations going on surrounding your life.

Family doctors are also are great resource when dealing with mental health awareness. While they can provide medication for specific situations, doctors have a wide field of resources of fellow collogues which include councilors who are trained to provide an ear and a voice on the situation in an individuals' life.

Possibly the greatest help around can be found within the family. Occurrence of mental health is not always heredity but studies have found that it can be passed down or found within a family.

Talking is huge on overcoming and understanding the problems weighing you down in everyday life and love of a family or family member can be that needed push to find help and change your life.

More information on symptoms and ways to get help, visit http://www.cmhaniagara.ca/index.php.