Our mental and physical health are each distinct parts of our overall well-being. They’re also closely connected and influenced by many of the same factors, including each other. Despite plenty of commonalities between the two, there’s also a key difference—stigma.
While understanding and advocacy around mental health are growing, the complex and often invisible nature of conditions like anxiety, depression and mental illness in general makes it easy for misconceptions to take hold. As a result, people are more likely to mask their struggles out of fear or shame, which adds an additional burden to what they’re already facing.
And much like the way a minor physical injury has the potential to become life-threatening if not properly treated, unchecked issues with mental health can grow to be all-consuming. In Canada alone, approximately 12 per cent of people have thoughts of suicide in their lifetime. Though there is no concrete cause or sole predictor of suicide, psychological and emotional challenges often play a role and are among the potential warning signs.
These topics can be difficult to approach, but continuing to address the stigma surrounding mental health issues and suicide is an important means for prevention—along with effective, timely supports. If you’re struggling or concerned for a loved one, help is available through Arcora’s EAP mental health services, as well as public supports. This includes immediate assistance at any time through the national Suicide Crisis Helpline.
Help With Overcoming Challenges
Whether it’s relationship struggles, issues at work, financial worries or something else—the list of life’s potential challenges can seem never-ending. We may do our best to plan or mitigate, only to have something completely unexpected crop up. Since challenges are unavoidable, it’s essential that we learn to address them effectively. Sometimes, that means seeking professional guidance.
The counselling offered through Arcora’s EAP mental health services is goal-oriented and outcome-based. This means that from the outset, you and your counsellor will collaborate to determine what you hope to gain through counselling and work together toward achieving that goal. Not only are you addressing whatever initially prompted you to seek support, you’re gaining meaningful skills and the resilience to handle life’s future obstacles. With individual, couples and family counselling, a wide range of therapeutic approaches and choice in how you access sessions, we can help get you or your family the support you need.
On top of counselling, Arcora’s EAP includes legal and financial information from qualified professionals, help navigating care for children or elder adults and nutritional guidance from registered dietitians—supports that work together to foster well-being, all just a call or click away.
Help With Fighting Stigma
While stigma remains a substantial hurdle to understanding mental health, diagnosing and treating mental illness and preventing suicide, the good news is that anyone can work to reduce it, and education is the best place to start. Simply learning the facts and sharing knowledge helps combat the misinformation and lack of understanding that create prejudice.
Our attitude about mental health also plays a major role, as it can be unconsciously biased or harmful, even with the best of intentions. How we speak is a good indicator of this. Not just when talking about mental illness or suicide specifically, but in the language we use every day, like calling something ‘crazy’ when we really mean unexpected or shocking. Using these kinds of terms strengthens negative associations with mental health struggles. That’s why education is key—it’s how we can become aware of the ways in which our attitude and behaviours may inadvertently contribute to stigma.
Help With Supporting Others
We may not always be able to recognize when someone close to us is facing mental health challenges, but we can get to know the signs and how to help. Consistently low mood, loss of interest in things that used to bring joy, social withdrawal, increased substance use and notable changes in routines or behaviour (including sleeping and eating) are all common causes for concern, particularly when paired with risk factors.
Since anxiety, depression and similar disorders are often isolating, especially during times when connection and support are needed most, simply checking in can make all the difference. If you’re at all concerned that someone important to you may be having thoughts of suicide, it’s crucial to talk to that person and get them professional help as soon as possible.
Help With Getting the Right Help
Like everything else in life, your well-being will fluctuate. Proactively nourishing its many different parts—including building and maintaining supportive relationships—can help smooth out those bumps along the way. Wherever you are on your journey, be sure you know where to go for guidance. In addition to your EAP, you can find valuable resources and support through the following organizations:
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Suicide Crisis Helpline
- Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
Remember, even when things seem overwhelming, help is always available.
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