Today is World Mental Health Day, an opportunity to open the conversation and remove the stigma regarding suicide and mental health. This year, the theme is Mental Health at Work, opening the discussions in the workplace surrounding mental health and how it can impact everyone in the workplace.
Tasha Collins, Program Director for the Weyburn branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association’, extended the sentiment that we need to keep talking about mental health, noting how days like these can raise awareness on a delicate topic.
“The World Health Organization first founded and observed this day on October 10th, 1992, and it is observed every year with the aim of raising awareness within the global community about critical mental agendas. I think, as I'm sure you do, any and all awareness creates an opportunity for us to pause and think about the importance of what they represent. So, this year, the World Mental Health Day is looking at highlighting mental health in the workplace.”
Mental health in the workplace is a tough topic because most who are battling find it easier to hide it away rather than feel shame that they are struggling. However, mental health is something that affects everyone, including the workplace. Collins hopes however that days like these can bring those issues out of the dark and into the light.
“The importance is to keep that conversation about mental health and keep it open and an honest conversation. I think that helps to reduce the stigma and raise awareness, I think you know, mental health affects every aspect of our lives, whether it's our relationships, our physical health, our workplace, even our sense of purpose. Yet it's often, you know, misunderstood and stigmatized, so encouraging those open conversations about mental health helps break that silence, and it fosters compassion as well as acceptance.”
CMHA Weyburn has done a lot helping keep those conversations open and advocate for mental health, just last month they held their annual semi-colon tattoo event with record-breaking attendance. Collins mentions that they’re not finished yet, as they’ll be hosting a variety of events in the near future.
“We will be putting up social media posts (of) World Mental Health Day with a link to find more information if people are interested. I think really what I would want to say is that like I encourage people to have those conversations. it increases our resilience, resilience and helps us to maintain our own mental health. So if anybody is struggling, if anybody is looking for support, I would encourage them to reach out to our branch.”
For more information, check out the World Health Organizations website, or for more local support, visit the CMHA Weyburn’s website.