This is not my typical post , but it needs to be said. May is Mental Health Awareness month , and I believe it should be every month. Conversations around Mental Health need to become more normalized . Only when we have the conversations and reduce the fear, stigma and judgement around mental illness can we begin to promote resilience and recovery. Those who know me know Mental Health awareness, is not only part of my job, but it is my calling.
Did you know one in four (25%) Canadians aged 18 and older screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in spring 2021 (Study )
One in 4, more likely one in two , why do I say this ? Because we often find people under report signs of declining Mental wellness. But as the statistics show 1 in 4 screen positive, but what about the family, friends and circle of influence of these individuals?
Its fair to say that everyone is at some time affected by mental health concerns, whether it be their own symptoms, or the impact of a close persons mental health problem.
So why aren't we talking about it more?
How can we start the conversations?
What can we do for ourselves and others?
One thing you can do is find a Mental Health First Aid training in your area, in Canada it is offered in the Virtual (Zoom) model, and in face to face presentations. I have been teaching this for several years now and I am often surprised by the feedback I get from professionals who have taken the training, Nurses, educators, Social workers, health aids etc, all stating that they wished this was part of their initial education.
Have conversations, ask questions, and notice the changes in the people around you. As we come out of the lock downs and restrictions, check in with people. And listen, just listen. we don't have to solve every problem a person has, and honestly most people simply want to be heard, listen to hear, not to answer, most importantly listen without judgement, my opinion has no place in anyone's mental health. So listen with as one of my students once said "with your judgement and or opinion in your back pocket
And take care of yourself, self care is vastly underestimated. Consider yourself as the most important key in your toolbox, without you, physical first aid cannot happen, nor can Mental Health first aid.
Agriculture and veterinary medicine are two very high risk categories for mental health concerns going unseen or unrecognized, let start to change that
Veterinarians more than twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts than other Canadians
Stay well and safe until we meet again my friends
4 comments:
With 1 in 4 screening positive for signs- it seems like at least one other person in their family and at least 1 person in their circle of friends is also going thru their own issues. How can they help someone else if they're in the same rut, maybe not quite as deep or maybe even deeper? Its a tough call.
Personally I have embraced being pretty much alone. The horses are always there for me, they get me and they also don't judge. Above all- they listen and don't tell secrets.
As someone associated with both high risk fields, thank you for this post. In my blog I rarely talk about all of the down side to farming but as you know weather, death loss, finances...can all be challenging to deal with.
We have people in both my family and Ted's family who have mental health issues.
We both have learned to listen to them and not be judgmental, although at times we have to bite our tongue and/or distance ourselves for our own mental health. Especially when said persons become verbally abusive. I suffered enough from verbal abuse in past relationships to not allow myself to be subjected to it any more.
When I first found out about the high suicide rate in veterinarians I was quite surprised. But it is a profession with a lot of emotion involved and it's hard to not get drawn into that.
Thank you for the work and advocacy you continue to do, to bring/keep Mental Health in the "spotlight". It is needed and way more prevalent than some people think.
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