Mental Health Week May 6-10
Mental Health Week 2024 is set for May 6-10, and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) branches and divisions across Canada will recognize it with the theme of “Healing through Compassion.” Mental health issues come in many shapes and sizes and are more common than many realize. In Canada, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness or mental health issue in any given year. Approximately half of all mental health disorders start by the mid-teen years and 75 percent start by the mid-20s, but young people struggle to find the help they need with nearly one-third reporting that cost is the primary barrier to accessing care. Mental Health Week is a campaign to help promote, through education and awareness, the behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health, and create a culture of understanding and acceptance. Compelling scientific evidence suggests that giving compassion, receiving compassion, and allowing ourselves to experience self-compassion are all greatly beneficial to our mental health.
Humans are physiologically constructed to be kind and compassion is an innate human quality that all human beings are born with. Everyone is capable of and has the capacity for compassion. Researchers today define compassion as an emotional response to the struggles of others combined with a real, authentic desire to help lessen their suffering. Many people confuse compassion with empathy. Empathy is what allows people to imagine themselves in another’s situation and experience the emotions that go along with that. While empathy is sensing, feeling, and understanding the suffering of others, compassion goes one step further and involves a desire to help others and take action to ease their suffering.
According to information contained on CMHA’s website, many studies have shown that human beings are built to respond to others who are in need. Researchers Rilling and Berns studied the brains of participants who were given the chance to help someone. They discovered that the process of relieving suffering in others gave the same positive physical reactions experienced from one’s own pleasure. This supports the theory that compassion is part of the human ‘wiring.’ Further support comes from the fact that witnessing acts of compassion can encourage others to show compassion too, as demonstrated through behavioural studies.
Feeling compassion also has a significant impact on the body with the lowering of the heart rate and the release of the ‘feel-good’ hormone, oxytocin. According to researchers, it feels as good to give compassion as to receive it. Giving appears to be equally, if not more pleasurable, than receiving. Giving compassion to others can shift one’s perceptions and create a more positive mindset, thereby helping to lift feelings of depression.
Perhaps the most compelling discoveries of all are the mental health benefits related to self-compassion. Dr. Kristin Neff and colleagues, leading experts on self-compassion, describe it as “treating oneself with the same kindness, care, and concern that one would offer to a close friend.” When people respond with kindness to their own personal shortcomings and failures, rather than with self-critique, they can be more self-accepting which promotes positive self-esteem and well-being. Self-compassion improves emotional resilience. When people are compassionate with themselves, they are better equipped to cope with setbacks and failure with fewer negative self-judgments and more encouraging and caring self-talk. Research again shows that self-compassion affects the severity of some mental health symptoms and improves quality of life through an increased sense of happiness, optimism, and a greater sense of meaning and fulfillment.
The natural ups and downs of life can lead to emotional distress and suffering at times. Sometimes, these experiences can hinder a person’s innate compassion, making it more difficult to offer empathy or kindness. Fortunately, it is possible to strengthen one’s sense of compassion through practice. Whether directed inwardly or outwardly, practicing compassion enhances mental well-being.
There are many people who experience challenges to their mental health through their work. Performance pressures such as deadlines and quotas can take a toll on the mental health of those who work in the private sector, while the nature of their work can affect those in the public sector. Doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters, police, and paramedics are just some of the careers that typically attract people who score high in measures of compassion and empathy, and these fields can drain mental health reserves. Forming authentic relationships with colleagues is an important aspect of creating compassionate workplace cultures. Offering compassion to oneself and one’s coworkers increases connections and improves relationships, promotes positive emotions, and reduces job-related stress and anxiety. Expressing genuine interest and concern, actively listening without judgment, and validating coworkers' experiences and emotions build an environment of trust amongst colleagues that is vital for forming meaningful support networks at work.
Mental health is a vital component of overall employee well-being, playing a significant role in influencing various aspects of work performance. A healthy mental state directly impacts an individual’s productivity, enabling them to focus better, think more creatively, and problem-solve more effectively. Furthermore, a positive mental health environment contributes to higher job satisfaction, as employees feel supported, valued, and engaged in their roles. This, in turn, leads to improved retention rates, as employees are more likely to remain with a company that prioritizes their mental well-being. By addressing mental health in the workplace, organizations can foster a thriving and resilient workforce that drives success and growth.
The stigma that still surrounds mental health can create significant obstacles for those who need help. Conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder can deeply affect individuals and families, leading to emotional pain, social isolation, and even physical health problems. During Mental Health Week, society can challenge these damaging attitudes by talking openly about mental health, sharing stories, and showing support for those living with mental health issues. When these conversations are normalized, others are empowered to seek help without fear of judgment.
In the Federal Budget tabled on April 16th by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, there is a proposed investment of $500 million over five years aimed at reducing wait times and providing more options for young people seeking care for their mental health. CMHA is advocating for the investment to be directed to non-profit community organizations who deliver mental health programming but because of how the mental health system is structured, do not receive the same level of funding as hospitals and doctor’s offices. Mental health is just as critical as physical health, and in fact, they are deeply intertwined.
The Canadian Mental Health Association website offers information on the topic of compassion as well as other resources. (https://cmha.ca/)
On the Government of Saskatchewan website links can be accessed for the free Counselling Connect Saskatchewan, the Farm Stress Line, Kids Help Phone, and emergency crisis hotlines as well as mental health clinics. (https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/accessing-health-care-services/mental-health-and-addictions-support-services/mental-health-support/mental-health-services)
Remember, it is okay to ask for help, and it is okay to encourage others to do the same. Mental health is not a destination, but a journey.
Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder
