February was Black History Month in Canada where individuals, communities, and businesses come together to celebrate and highlight the vast achievements of Black Canadians. 

The importance of having this dedicated month is to keep the stories and lives of Black individuals, from civil rights activists to the everyday person, at the forefront of our minds.

Often times, when discussions occur regarding Black history it seems easy to only talk about the oppression, racism, and discrimination this group of people have endured. While it is important to be educated on the negative experiences that have shaped Black communities, it would be a misfortune to ignore their achievements. 

A few prominent Black Canadians include: 

•  Elijah McCoy (1843/1844-1929): an engineer and inventor whose discoveries helped to create self-oiling machines saving the time and effort of workers.

•  Rosemary Brown (1930-2003): was the first Black woman to be elected to a provincial legislature and to run as a leader of the NDP Party. She advocated for the removal of sexism within BC schools and ran with the slogan ‘Brown is Beautiful’. 

• Jean Augustine (1937-): is the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons. She solely led the creation of Black History Month within Canada in 1995.

To check out some more trailblazers in Canadian history, click here (https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month/black-canadians.html)

Here are a few mental health resources and programs geared towards Black individuals in Edmonton:

• Black Lives Matter YEG: Mental Health  (https://blmyeg.ca/mental-health)

• The Africa Centre: Counselling (https://www.africacentre.ca/counselling) 

• Black Owned Market (follow their pages on instagram and facebook to keep up to date on the pop-up market) (https://www.bomyeg.ca/)

Mental health has become a more popular topic while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Slowly the discussion of mental health is becoming less taboo, so what’s next?

The current trend has seen an increase in mental health apps. There is already a consistent increase with self-management, improving thinking skills, illness support/care, and symptom collecting apps.  There is not yet a successful system for evaluating the effectiveness of mental health apps, but this is something that may be further developed with the increase of online-accessibility, especially post-COVID-19. Programs and different tools are being assessed to use for post-covid with the effects of a pandemic on our mental health such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD which are already increasing in staggering numbers. 

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has been prioritizing what needs to be improved upon with the mental health sector, including:

• improving the collection of data, knowledge, and research

• assessing and implementing new treatments for people with mental disorders

• suicide awareness and prevention 

• family and caregivers stress management 

• self-harm and addictions supports among university and college students 

Research on the effects of technology positivity and what makes people happy and healthy. Creating the best laboratories to study what people’s social media posts mean and what type of recommendations can be best ascribed to them. Also, looking at artificial human intelligence and what can be used for further programs, systems with the evolution of mental health. 

Across the USA and Canada the focus has shifted towards:

• creating better processes for treating depression

• mental health care into all primary care clinics

• more programs for postpartum depression

• placing social workers into all schools and proper training for Indigenous clients

• the root of homelessness and more sustainable ways to support the most vulnerable

Potentials of the future from mental health studies:

1. Universal standards for healthcare

• • Standards for people with mental disorders and will be driven focused as a human rights movement 

  • Worldwide and network of organizations will be monitoring areas, then with the reports created more funding will be solely given out due to the reports that state the lingering need for extra funding within the sector

2. The worldwide collaboration of research 

• • The goal of working on research in an institute that is centralized

  • Making sure other institutes aren’t working on the same issues, to balance it out

3. Using diversity

• • Diversity within countries and regions, with practices, knowledge is as valuable as scientific knowledge

  • Educating professionals about different backgrounds and offering training in areas of the unknown 

4. Mental health value in global politics 

• • This will become a common target for politicians to focus on the levels of power

  • Focuses on natural disasters and other types of catastrophes that will create a broader spectrum of regions and what is most needed for politicians and communities to need 

Other areas for improvements:

• Looking at the possibilities of an increase of spas, gyms, and wellness retreats, due to the pandemic and other issues within social justice issues.

• Meditation could become common in the workplace and home life.

• Issues with sleeping have seen a rapid increase.

• Digital disconnection is becoming the new norm and is slowly creating a movement, which is seeing an increase of better mental health, but again technology is a huge part of society.

• The global discussion on breathing techniques has been throughout social media platforms and has been considered as a new branch of professional work, it may turn into “breathing classes” and start a whole new type of business, similar to a yoga class. 

What WHO predicts:

• Consistent action with problems with the mindset of promotion, prevention, and managing programs. 

• Discussing mental health and continuously talking about stigma and human rights.

• Preventive strategies for mental health and can be as useful at starting this type of strategy while in childhood. 

• New tools for prevention of suicide, with policies updated, increase of harder to access products.

• There will still be barriers of stigma, lack of training and skills, wrong priorities, discrimination for health insurance, and lack of policies and regulations for mental health.

How to possibly empower the world?

• Most mental health illnesses are treatable, but there continues to be systematic discrimination within society.

• We need to make policy-makers, government, and other powers accountable in our areas, to create a stride and movement for creating better mental healthcare for all, by writing to your MLA or spread awareness for your interests. 

• Think about what you can do to create supportive environments! 

References 

Doraiswamy, P.Murali.(2019).World Economic Forum. This is how we can empower 8 billion minds by 2030. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/future-of-mental-health-technology/ 

Baldwin, P. Technology and the future of mental health. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/at-first-glance-the-future-of-mental-health-can-seem-disheartening-depression-is-currently-the-most-common-mental-disorder-with-300-million-people-affected-globally-the-world-health-organisation-e/ 

NIMH.Technology and the Future of Mental Health Treatment.(2019).Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treatment/index.shtml 

Mental Health Comission of Canada.(2015). Informing the Future : Mental Health Indicators for Canada. https://iamhrf.org/sites/iamhrf.org/files/uploads/publication/files/informing_the_future_-_mental_health_indicators_for_canada.pdf 

Providence.(2017). The Future of Mental Health. http://future.psjhealth.org/mental-health 

PMC.(2019). Possibilities for the future of global mental health: a scenario planning approach.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6907341/ 

Global Wellness Summit. (2017). The Future is Mental Wellness. https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2017-global-wellness-trends/the-future-is-mental-wellness/ 

World Health Organization. (2003). Investing in Mental Health. https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/investing_mnh.pdf 

Okay so 2020 was rough on your love life.  Not being able to travel to find your long-lost SO in a foreign country narrows down your options.  Plus being stuck inside all day doesn’t necessarily make it the easiest to go out there and meet the love of your life either.  And those 40-minute Zoom dates?  I get it, they aren’t for everyone.  Now it’s already February 2021 and Valentine’ Day is coming up in two days, yet you’re alone and STILL stuck in a pandemic.  Sounds like the perfect opportunity to take yourself on a self-care date.  ❤️

Follow our step-by-step guide below on how to have a self-care date with yourself this Sunday.  Besides, what do you have to lose?  Nobody can see you blushing from the cute love note you wrote to yourself from underneath your mask. 😉

Step 1: Ambience

Yeah those 3-day old sweats that you’ve been wearing to all your online classes? They got to go, that’s nasty.  If you’re going to go on a self-care date with yourself, you gotta DRESS for a date.  Take a shower, wash your hair, put on some clean clothes.  Maybe even try out that cool make-up look you saw on Tik-Tok the other day.  Put yourself together with a little bit of pampering to start off this self-care date on the right foot.

You also need to dress up your environment for that romantic self-love, baby. Take some time to clean up your space, light a candle and make the room you’re in into one you want to be in.  Your environment affects your mental space and how you function in that area.  Cleaning up your space for a self-care date also prepares a productivity work area for after Reading Break as well.

Step 2: Practice your literacy

When was the last time you received a love letter?  What about one of those mini Valentines from those Walmart 24-packs that was last-minute tossed into someone’s shopping cart? Been a while, huh?  As cheesy as these love notes may get, I think it’s time to treat yourself to one, so grab a piece of paper and your half dried out pen sitting on your desk to get started.

If you need, start with a classic acrostic poem back from grade-school as a warm-up.  Write out your preferred name along the side and then a quality you like about yourself, starting with the same letter of each of the letters of your name.  Not for you?  Try writing a letter to someone you appreciate but normally don’t show your love towards.  It doesn’t have to be long, but take time to show that gratitude.  No pressure to ever send the letter to that person either.  When you’re ready, go for that love letter to yourself.  Include whatever makes you comfortable and inspires happiness.  Keep that letter for later in the semester as a reminder of how great you are.

Step 3: Snacks for a snacc 😉 

You deserve a special meal this Valentine’s Day, even if it’s one made by yourself.  Take some time to put together a homemade dish, perhaps a favourite childhood meal, or if you’re low on time, just make a small snack you know you’ll enjoy.  And let’s be real, if cooking is not up your alley, you can 100% order delivery of your current craving instead.  Whichever way you end up treating yourself to food, enjoy it and remember the true sweet treat is yourself. 🍬

Step ???: Reality

Self-care isn’t always the glam and glitter of a spa night and indulging in all the luxuries.  Sometimes it’s just reminding yourself to get out of bed and have a glass of water, or washing your face before you’re onto the next thing.  That is completely okay too.  Valentine’s Day this year just happens to fall onto Reading Week, and everyone here at the PHET encourages you to take the time off from university studies to take care of yourself, in whatever form that may be.  You know yourself best and what you need to thrive, so take a break and breathe.  Do some self-care for yourself and get those basic needs taken care of.  We’ll be cheering for you the entire way.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!  Whether you are alone or not, I hope these self-care tips provided a little inspiration on how to treat yourself to some self-love this Sunday. What more of this great content?  Feel free to keep exploring the PHET website for other great resources and fun posts from us.  See you next time!

What is Bell Let’s Talk Day? 

• A campaign started in 2011 to create a new conversation surrounding mental health

• Bell donates 5 cents every time someone texts, calls, tweets, or uses a social media filter using #BellLetsTalk

This campaign is helping individuals start the discussion on how to start the conversation around mental health. While dealing with a pandemic worldwide, we are learning just how important our well-being really is.

Reminder: It’s okay to struggle, be self-compassionate towards yourself, a lot of events have shaken our world. Take care of yourself, do the best you can mentally. We are all struggling together!

Partners of Bell Let’s Talk Day:

• Strongest Families Institute - Bilingual programs for mental health struggles within families & youth. 

•  Relief - Workshops, peer supports, recovery programs for helping with anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression.

• Kids Help Phone - Accessibility on multiple social media platforms, anonymous phone calls, and direct services and support. Available for ages 5-25+ Councilors are available 24/7: Tel:1-800-668-6868 or text @686868

• Jack.org -  A charity focused on youth being at the frontline of changing mental health stigma, with opportunities for training, AND we have chapters at MacEwan! Other initiatives are, Summits Talks, Be There, and Do Something, these are all areas of support for mental health. 

• CMHA National - programs, courses, and supports for mental health and well-being, accessible throughout Canada.

How to start the conversation:

Conversation Starter 

Learn more about Bell Let's Talk here! 

 It’s the Halloween season and you may be a little too old for trick-or-treating but a spooky party with your cohort is definitely not off the table! Here are some tips to stay safe while partying in that costume you took hours in preparing.

 Be Proactive.

Plan ahead to keep yourself safe and to keep the night a fun one!  If you know you’re going to be drinking, try to eat before and during consumption of those alcoholic beverages. Remember to mix up your night with a few non-alcoholic drinks to stay hydrated.

Ask yourself a few questions before heading out – Who will you be going with tonight?  Where are you going and how are you getting there and back? When are you going?  How do you respond if something goes wrong? Setting up a checklist before you go can identify any risks that might pop up during the night and will give you a plan in place just in case you need it.

 Knowledge is power.

Once you have planned ahead a concrete idea of your night, follow it!  Make decisions that are best for you by grounding yourself in your comfort zone to reduce pressure or temptation. You don’t need to mix substances to have a good time. Know your limit to stay within it and listen to your body with what you may be consuming. You don’t need to play “catch up” to others, instead take it slow, stay hydrated and watch/cover your drink. Lastly, knowing where you’re going to be and for how long, you can have that safe, sober ride home set to go. Whether that’s public transit, an Uber, a cab, a family member or a sober friend, knowing how you’re going to get home will keep the night stress-free.

 Follow local COVID-19 Guidelines.

Wear a mask, socially distance, keep with your cohort, etcetera, you know the drill.  We are still in a pandemic and need to work together to get through this time. Edmonton and Calgary have just been set at 15 people maximum per social gathering as per the Alberta Government, so stay within that regulation and be aware of your cohort group(s).

To find trusted COVID-19 information, check out the Alberta COVID-19 Edmonton Zone page here.

Have fun!

You’re a busy student and it’s been a stressful semester. Take some time to have some fun this Halloweekend! Stay safe, get spooky and have a Happy Halloween MacEwan! 🎃 #HealthyShinangians 

Looking for more info? Check out these sources:

For more safer drinking guidelines, check out the CCSA Canadian Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines here.

For more information about safer partying tips and harm reduction, check out the Coalition for Harm Reduction @ MacEwan (CHARM) here. 

References

Mental health, especially since COVID-19 has been around, is increasingly important and we need to make sure we take care of our psychological health just like we are taking care of our  physical health. 

To start, what is mental health & why does it matter? 

Being mentally healthy is the state of feeling well, coping with stressors and struggles, and finding the perfect balance in your life to maintain mental wellness. Mental health is essential through every stage of our lives and affects how we relate to others, make choices, and shape our beliefs and ideas. 

What is World Mental Health Day?

It is a day for the world to come together in support of mental health through education, awareness, and advocacy that discusses mental health stigma. 

WHO (World Health Organization) hosts World Mental Health Day every October 10th.  WHO’s yearly movement  intends to increase funding  towards mental health services. The pandemic (COVID-19), which the whole world has been dealing with, affects peoples’ mental health by causing a lot more struggles such as; poverty, unemployment, anxiety, and many more. 

To learn more about World Mental Health Day click here....

Here are some statistics to look at:

• People who experience the most severe and complex mental health problems, approximately 70 to 90 percent, also face unemployment (CMHA Ontario & CAMH, 2010).

• A research project that looked at the case files for a sample of residential school survivors found that 75 percent contained information about mental health. The most common mental health diagnoses were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse disorder, and major depression (Health Canada, 2017).

• Millennials, people with lower incomes, and women are at higher risk for mental health problems than other demographic groups (Ipsos, 2017).

• Canadians in the lowest income group are three to four times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health (Mawani & Gilmour, 2010).

• Over 60% of students say they’ve felt “more than average” or “tremendous” stress in the past year. Almost 90% say they’ve felt overwhelmed at some point. More than 40% say stress has affected their academic performance. Around 16% have seriously considered suicide, and almost 3% attempted suicide in the past year (MHCC, 2020).

• In 2017, the number of Canadians who were considered high risk for developing mental health problems increased from 33 percent to 41 percent over a two-year period (MHCC, 2020).

• 1 in 5 Canadians (20 percent) experiences a mental health problem (Smetanin et al., 2011).

• Once Canadians reach age 40, one in two have experienced a mental health problem (Smetanin et al., 2011).

Impact of mental health struggles can include:

• Missing out on social gatherings

• Taking time off work to help yourself or loved ones

• Influence your ability to make decisions

• Sleep issues

• Appetite changes

• Deterioration of physical health 

Some risk factors of mental health concerns can include:

• Trauma: negative impact, inability to adapt to everyday stresses

• Biological/physical health: the brain & body are connected, physical afflictions that affect mental health

• Social Determinants of Health: Income level, Education, Occupation, Employment status, Workplace safety, Gender, etc. 

Tips to help with your mental health: 

• Find a balance for breaks, food, study time, and sleep

• Be compassionate towards yourself

• Lessen your screen time

• Reach out when you need help

• Visit friends

• Do hobbies you enjoy 

• Learn to accept yourself

• Care for others

MacEwan University Supports 

Wellness and Psychological Services: visit WPS to learn more.

• Any student currently enrolled in a credit course at MacEwan University can access free, professional counselling with psychologists and clinical social workers. Complete an initial consultation online or by phone through Wellness and Psychological Services to begin.

Peer Support with SAMU: visit Peer Support to learn more.

• Peer Support is a student-operated program that provides students with a safe, confidential environment to discuss life’s stresses and tough situations with a trained listener.

Edmonton Mental Health Resources 

Alberta Community Services: Call 211 or visit 211

• Advocacy, Animals/pet care, Arts/culture, Associations, Form filling assistance, Holidays/celebrations, Personal development, Recreational activities/sports, Recreational equipment/supplies, etc. 

Health Link: Call 811 to talk to a nurse 24/7

• A telephone service, which provides free 24/7 nurse advice and general health information for Albertans.

Mental Health Helpline: Call 1-877-303-2642 (toll free)

• Provides toll-free, 24 / 7 telephone service, which offers help for mental health concerns for Albertans.

Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 or visit KidsHelpPhone to text or live chat 

• Kids Help Phone is always there for you. No matter what you want to talk about, we’re here to listen. No judgment, totally private, 24/7.

References