Quebec – Consult all information related to mental health and mental disorders to promote your well-being and find necessary help when you need it. Caseworkers are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many organizations offer free and confidential support services and professional consultations. Contact them:
- Info-Social 811 (811, option 2) – To quickly reach a professional in psychosocial intervention
- 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553) – To find support if you or a loved one is considering suicide
- 911 – In case of immediate danger to yourself or a loved one
The World Health Organization defines mental health as an essential component of health. It is a “state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. According to this definition, being in good mental health does not solely mean not having a mental illness.
Mental illness is a state of health defined by changes that affect a person’s thinking, mood and behaviour, thereby interfering with a person’s functioning and causing distress.
These changes may be observed by the person with a mental illness or the person’s family or immediate circle. For instance, close relations may notice that the person affected has become withdrawn or has stopped engaging in certain activities. For their part, the person affected may have difficulty concentrating, or feel sad or anxious about engaging in daily activities.
Health professionals and doctors take into account all signs and symptoms to evaluate the person’s condition and to render a diagnosis. Most people in Québec will at one point or another be affected by mental illness, be it personally or through a loved one. Like physical illness, mental illness can strike anyone, regardless of age, sex, social status, education, nationality or ethnic origin.
About 20% of the Québec population, or 1 in 5 people, will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. According to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, less than half of the people who experience mental illness consult a professional.