Ottawa – This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, an opportunity to highlight that everyone’s experience with mental illness is unique. Almost all of us have been affected by mental illness, either directly or through the experiences of our family, friends or colleagues. This year’s theme, “Access For All: Time for Action, Time for Change,” is a reminder that we must all work together to promote access to mental health care for everyone.

Mental illness, including mood disorders, can affect how someone thinks, feels, and behaves, and can significantly impact a person’s day to day. Improving our knowledge and understanding of mental illness helps reduce barriers to care, like stigma. The Government of Canada is working to improve access to mental healthcare by challenging stigma, improving mental health literacy, funding culturally relevant and tailored resources and normalizing conversations to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness.

Getting help for a mental illness can significantly improve your quality of life. Learning about mental illness and knowing when to reach out for help is an important part of self-care. Through the recently announced Youth Mental Health Fund, the government of Canada has committed to helping young Canadians access the mental health care they need by reducing wait times and providing more care options.

If you or a loved one are struggling with lasting negative emotions or have concerns about mental health, visit Canada.ca/mental-health for free mental health resources.

For those living with mental illness, support is available. Speak to a health care professional or someone you trust. You can also connect with Kids Help Phone which provides confidential mental health resources 24/7 for kids, teens and young adults, or the Hope for Wellness Helpline which provides Indigenous Peoples with immediate emotional support and crisis intervention with experienced and culturally sensitive helpline counsellors.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline at any time, from anywhere in Canada to access bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate suicide prevention support.

Mental Illness is as real as any physical illness, and no one should have to face it alone. We are working with all levels of government so that everyone in Canada has the mental health care support they need, when or where they need it. – Ya’ara Saks