Let's talk about mental health

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By EMC News

EMC Editorial - The issue of mental health made headlines last week, as Bell celebrated its second annual Let's Talk Day on Feb. 8.

From stories detailing Olympian Clara Hughes and TV sports talk show host Michael Landsberg personal struggles with depression and their commitment to help end the stigma associated with mental illness, to news of a new partnership between Bell and Queen's University to create a new research initiative to help fight that very same stigma, the issue of mental health was literally the talk of the town, province and nation last week.

We at the EMC commend all those, celebrity or otherwise, who are working to bring the issue of mental illness out of the shadows and into the light.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health one in five Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime, and the remaining four will have a friend, family member or colleague who will.

We at the EMC can validate this claim as people within our organization, their friends and/or family have been affected by mental illness.

The issue of mental health needs to be out in the open and talked about, as it is so widespread and affects all people of all ages in our society and is nothing to be ashamed of.

It is unfortunate that, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, only 50 per cent of Canadians would tell friends or co-workers they have a family member with a mental illness, and that 46 per cent of Canadians think that people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behaviour.

We believe that each time a person comes forward to speak about their own personal struggles with mental illness to a friend, family member or co-worker, they are doing their part to help combat the stigma associated with this health issue.

So in the words of Bell, "Let's Talk" and help to put an end to the stigma associated with mental illness.