Mental health promotion and prevention

Involving loved ones in a person’s mental health care and service journey contributes to their recovery and the success of your interventions.

Team up with loved ones!

Discover essential practices and tools that can support you in your interventions.  Québec.ca/ProfessionnelProcheSantéMentale

You can play an important role in their recovery. Talk to this person and their practitioners.

As a loved one, practitioners can do certain things for you:

• Consider you, welcome you, and listen to you, because your experience and knowledge are important;
• Integrate you as a true partner in the care and service team, if you wish and with your loved one’s consent;
• Equip you by providing the information and support needed to accompany the person and adapt to the situation.

Discover how you can get involved in their care and service journey while respecting the person’s rights.  Québec.ca/ProcheSantéMentale

February 2 to 8

Three Quebecers die by suicide every day according to data from the  Association québécoise de prévention du suicide. This could be your parent, your sibling, or someone you work with. 
 
You can get professional, confidential help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

•  Suicide Prevention Centre of Montreal – Telephone: 1 866-CALL (277-3553); text: 535353 
•  Suicide.ca – Talk to a counsellor, get information and tools, whether you’re thinking about suicide, worried about someone else, or grieving.
•  Tracom crisis intervention centre – Telephone: 514 483-3033. Counselling, temporary housing and short-term crisis follow-up for people aged 18 and over.

October 6 to 12

Mental Illness Awareness Week in Canada runs from October 6 to 12. The purpose of this national campaign is to inform Canadians about mental illness, improve people’s understanding of it and combat prejudice. 

Source:  Mental Illness Awareness Week: Youth mental health in the spotlight – Statistics Canada

October 10 each year

On October 10 of each year, through a variety of local activities, seminars and symposia with major partners around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the importance of taking care of mental health—our own and that of our family and friends. World Mental Health Day is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness around the various aspects of this issue.

For more details, visit the  WHO website.

Did you know that in Canada, the third week of February is “Kindness Week”?

There’s even an  Act. The bill was enacted on June 3, 2021, making Canada the first country in the world to pass such legislation. The purpose of this week is to improve the health and well-being of Canadians by encouraging “acts of kindness, volunteering, and charitable giving.”

There are many Canadians and charities in need of support, and there are valuable ways to help beyond opening pocketbooks:

• Lend a helping hand. We all have skills that can support others. A neighbour may need help with a yard chore, or perhaps we can lean into a hobby in order to donate something handmade.
• Volunteer your time. Community organizations need volunteers to ensure they can offer their services.
• Share what you have. Donating quality clothing or household items no longer being used is a great way to support others.
• Support a work event or cause. There are ways to support the Defence Team and show initiative, from participating in the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign, to planning a social or learning event for your unit/team.
• Show compassion for yourself and others. Thinking of others’ well-being and happiness starts with taking care of ourselves. Exercise self-care so that you can be there for others.
• Just smile. Smiles can be contagious and elevate the mood; you never know who needs one.

Source:  Kindness, the gift that keeps on giving – Canada.ca