mental Health
In spite of notable
advances being made in the conversation on mental
Health, the stigma round it still exists. Whether it’s diminishing the significance
of mental health, shutting down
people who effort to vocalize their struggles, or the depiction of mentally ill
people as unsafe or unpredictable, the negative implications are still
prevalent.
The
trivialization and stereotyping of those who suffer from a mental illness
continues to contribute to the growth of the stigma. Such stigmas may lead to
bullying, ostracization, joblessness, and the denial of vital services such as
housing. It also makes it increasingly problematic for those who struggle with mental health to express that and seek
assistance.
Though the
stigma is prominent in Canadian society and globally, statistics on mental
health within Canada are entirely staggering. According to the Centre for Habit
and Mental Health, one in five
Canadians suffers from an addiction or mental
health difficulty during any given year. Also, people aged 15-24 are the
most likely to struggle with mental
health or substance abuse as related to other age groups. Moreover, nearly
4,000 Canadians commit suicide yearly.
Just, famed
musician Kid Cudi publicly publicized that he was checking himself into rehab
for hopelessness and suicidal urges. Fans remarked with their support and urged
those who are struggling with their mental
health to seek help. But it was attracting to see that Kid Cudi’s public
expression of his struggle heartened others to come out and share their
stories. More definitely, he opened the door for men to talk about their mental health, which is a group whose mental health seems to be neglected due
to rigid stereotypes of masculinity. The rise of the hashtag #yougoodman
consisted of contributions to the conversation on mental health, race, and maleness.
In terms of
resources presented at UTM, the Health and Counselling Centre offers short-term
expert counselling services, in addition to referrals if long-term care is
deemed essential. Other administrations, such as the SEC, UTM Peer 2 Peer, the
AccessAbilityResource Centre, and Campus Police are also available for
advice or direction.
According to
their Facebook group, UTM Peer 2 Peer is a group aiming to assistance students
participate in weekly one-on-one sessions with trained peer bests where they
can debate any issues they are facing. Each week, they hold a mental health positive space on campus
to raise awareness of mental health
matters. The collection aims to actively work towards lessening incidents
regarding mental health, and
alleviating the fights of those who experience a mental illness.
Allison
Gomes, UTM Peer 2 Peer’s president, stated that the “biggest barrier [that
students with mental diseases] face is how others would observe them […] For
some purpose, there’s such a stigma around mental
health, and we necessity to start shaking it off; but the key thing for
students who want to speak up is that you’re not unaccompanied […].Understanding
something is not right and wanting to change it is a vast step in the right way.”
Gomes said the best information that she could provide was to “talk to others,
whether it’s a friend or a therapist […]—to find yourself support. It is a hard
thing to do initially, for a lot of the time; one feels very lost and alone
when dealing with mental health.”
A UTM
student, who asked to continue anonymous, shared her experience with mental health. Regarding the overused
statement, “It gets better,” the student stated, “If I had a dollar for the quantity
of times I heard that during my ongoing battle with despair, I could pay off my
tuition. I didn’t believe it would ever get healthier. I had two of my close friends
commit suicide, and a terrible home life.
“Earlier I
knew it, I started skipping class and withdrawing into myself; I required my
life to end. I kept it all in, and as my grades slipped and community life
began to suffer, I closely did end it. And that frightened me. I decided it
wasn’t fair on my contacts to be kept in the dark about my feelings, as I often
seemed upset, so I ended up telling them. And that was the greatest thing I
did. It protected my life,” she said. “Of course, it wasn’t an overnight thing
where my despair magically disappeared. It’s been a constant rollercoaster of
feelings. But I am a work in development. I know I can become healthier.”
UTM student
and advocate for mental health
issues, Maika Seki, fourth-year biology professional, talked about her own
struggles with mental health. “I
have certainly been in a place where I felt ashamed and embarrassed about
talking about my anxiety,” she said. “It took me a while to come out to my
friends and family, but it gets cooler with every person that you tell, and I
learned that people will oftentimes amazement you.”
She also
discussed the assistances of talking to someone about your mental health. “Letting people know what I deal with has allowed me
to preserve more honest relationships, and this line of message and trust is
especially significant when I need their support most.”
When requested
for advice, Seki said, “If you feel uncertain about speaking about your mental health because you fear an
insensitive response, ask yourself if these are people who donate positively to
your well-being. I have learned that the greatest people in your life will
love, accept, and support you unconditionally, and they will be willing that
you told them.”
There is a necessity
for society to shift its views on how mental
health is perceived and addressed. Mental
health is something that every person struggles with at some point, and
there’s no shame in reaching out for assistance.
Mental Health awareness and Social Counselling
Mental Health awareness and Social Counselling
Reviewed by health shop
on
January 21, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by health shop
on
January 21, 2019
Rating:
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