Did you know?
- In Canada, mental illness or an addiction problem will affect 1 in 5 people in any given year.
- The impact of mental illness in Ontario is 1.5 times higher than all cancers put together. (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)).
Mental illness can develop for several reasons, including:
- genetic
- environmental
- trauma
No matter the reason, mental health is a health condition just as diabetes and arthritis are health conditions. So, when mental illness is so prevalent, why are so many people afraid to speak up about it?
Stigma
Stigma is a negative stereotype that often leads to discrimination. Stigma prevents 40% of people with anxiety or depression from seeking medical help (CAMH). “Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of but stigma and bias shame us all” Bill Clinton.
How can you help stop stigma? Use the STOP criteria (Canadian Mental Health Association) to determine if something you’ve heard/seen supports the stigma against mental illness.
Reminder, “just because you don’t understand something, doesn’t mean it isn’t so” (Lemony Snicket)
